SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO.__)
Filed by the Registrant x
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
Check the appropriate box:
x Preliminary Proxy Statement Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
(as Permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
Definitive Proxy Statement
Definitive Additional Materials
Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss. 240.14a-11(c) or ss. 240.14a-12
COX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
1. Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
2. Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
3. Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
4. Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: $10,532,000
5. Total fee paid: $1,334.40
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1. Amount Previously Paid: None
2. Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
3. Filing Party:
4. Date Filed:
COX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MARCH, 2004
TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS:
Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of Shareholders of Cox
Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") will be held at the Holiday Inn Airport, 2707
Little Rock Road, Charlotte, North Carolina, on March, 2004, at 9:00 a.m. local
time, for the following purposes:
1. To approve the proposed sale of substantially all of our assets to
Sensitech Inc., as described in more detail in the accompanying proxy
statement.
2. To approve the Plan of Complete Liquidation and Dissolution of Cox
Technologies, Inc., substantially in the form of Annex B attached to the
accompanying proxy statement, including the liquidation and dissolution of
Cox Technologies contemplated thereby.
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Special
Meeting and any adjournments thereof.
The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the proxy
statement accompanying this Notice.
The Board of Directors has fixed January 29, 2004 as the record date
for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
special meeting. A list of such shareholders will be available for examination
by a shareholder for any purpose germane to the special meeting during ordinary
business hours at the corporate office of the Company, 69 McAdenville Road,
Belmont, North Carolina, during the ten (10) business days prior to the special
meeting and during the special meeting.
For the Board of Directors,
/s/ JAMES L. COX
DR. JAMES L. COX
Chairman, President and
Chief Technology Officer
Dated: February , 2004
The form of proxy is enclosed to enable you to vote your shares at the special
meeting. You are urged to mark, sign, date and return the proxy promptly in the
accompanying envelope. This is important whether you own few or many shares.
Delay in returning your proxy may subject the Company to additional expense. Any
person giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time prior to its
exercise, and if you attend the meeting in person, you may withdraw your proxy
and vote your shares in person if you so choose.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING
Q: What proposals will be voted on at the Special Meeting?
A: The following two proposals will be voted on at the Special Meeting:
The first proposal to be voted on is whether to approve the sale of
substantially all of our assets to Sensitech Inc., a Delaware corporation. The
assets Cox Technologies proposes to sell to Sensitech primarily consist of our
products, intellectual property rights, trade names, certain assumed contracts,
inventory, receivables and tangible personal property pursuant to the terms of
the Asset Purchase Agreement attached as Annex A. The proposed sale of assets is
referred to as "the asset sale". The assets to be sold in the asset sale are
substantially all of the assets of Cox Technologies other than cash, certain
equipment and office furniture. The Asset Purchase Agreement also excludes
certain equipment and inventory relating to the Vitsab product line. Subsequent
to the signing of the Asset Purchase Agreement, those Vitsab-related assets were
sold to Rask Holding ApS on January 29, 2004. See "Proposal No. 1--To Approve
the Proposed Asset Sale" for a more detailed description of the transaction with
Sensitech.
The second proposal to be voted on is whether to approve the Plan of Complete
Liquidation and Dissolution of Cox Technologies, Inc., substantially in the form
of Annex B attached to the accompanying proxy statement, including the
liquidation and dissolution of Cox Technologies contemplated thereby. This Plan
and the liquidation and dissolution of Cox Technologies contemplated by the Plan
are referred to as "the plan of dissolution." See "Proposal No. 2--To Approve
the Plan of Complete Liquidation and Dissolution" for a more detailed
description of the liquidation and dissolution process contemplated by the
proposal.
Q: Who is the purchaser?
A: The purchaser of Cox Technologies' assets will be Sensitech Inc. Sensitech is
a privately held company with its principal place of business at 800 Cummings
Center, Suite 258X, Beverly, Massachusetts. Sensitech is a provider of advanced
supply chain process management solutions, including temperature monitoring and
recording devices. Sensitech will purchase the Cox Technologies assets through
Cox Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of
Sensitech formed for the purpose of consummating the purchase. See "Proposal No.
1--To Approve the Proposed Asset Sale--Parties to the Asset Sale."
Q: What is the purchase price for Cox Technologies' assets?
A: Sensitech will pay us a total purchase price of approximately $10,532,000 for
our assets, subject to adjustments set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement.
Approximately $10,240,000 of the purchase price will be paid in cash and
approximately $292,000 of the purchase price will be paid through the assumption
of certain payables of Cox Technologies. The purchase price will be adjusted to
the extent the value of the receivables and inventory being purchased less the
amount of payables and certain claims being assumed deviates from a targeted
amount of $1,754,000, or if some of the current top 50 customers of Cox
Technologies indicate they will not transition all or substantially all their
business to Sensitech and the annual revenues from such customers exceeds
$1,700,000, or if our net revenues, exclusive of revenues from the Vitsab
product line for the four financial quarters prior to closing are less than
$8,000,000. Cox Technologies will receive approximately $9,990,000 of the cash
payment at closing. Sensitech will hold the remaining $250,000 for six months as
security against claims that may be brought as a result of any inaccuracy or
omission made by Cox Technologies in the Asset Purchase Agreement. Sensitech
will pay Cox Technologies the remaining $250,000 cash payment, less the amount
of claims, six months after the closing of the asset sale. Adjustments to the
purchase price will be payable as soon after the closing as the parties may
agree on the amounts of the adjustments, but in any event, within approximately
120 days after the closing. For additional information regarding the purchase
price and possible adjustments to the purchase price, see "Proposal No. 1--To
Approve the Proposed Asset Sale--Purchase Price."
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Q: What will happen if the asset sale is approved?
A: If the asset sale set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement is approved, we
will consummate the sale of assets subject to satisfaction of the closing
conditions set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement. We anticipate the
transaction will close within five business days after the Special Meeting. See
"Proposal No. 1--To Approve the Proposed Asset Sale--Other Terms."
In connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement, we have agreed to provide
manufacturing services to Sensitech for a transition period pursuant to the
terms of a Manufacturing Services Agreement. The Manufacturing Services
Agreement provides that we will continue to manufacture products under our
existing specifications for a period from the closing date of the asset sale
through June 1, 2004, unless terminated earlier by Sensitech, or unless we agree
to extend the term of the Manufacturing Services Agreement. The Manufacturing
Services Agreement provides that Sensitech will request orders consistent with
our production capabilities. In the Manufacturing Services Agreement we make no
representations or warranties other than that we will manufacture products in a
manner consistent with past practice and that Sensitech's sole remedy for any
product defect is the replacement or repair of the product. The Manufacturing
Services Agreement provides that Sensitech will pay rates for the manufacturing
services that are intended to cover all costs associated with performing the
manufacturing services. See "Proposal No. 1--To Approve the Proposed asset
Sale--Manufacturing Services."
Q: What are the interests of officers and directors in the asset sale?
A: Upon consummation of the asset sale, Dr. James L. Cox, our Chairman,
President and Chief Technology Officer and Sensitech will enter into a
Consulting and Noncompetition Agreement under which Dr. Cox will perform
consulting services to Sensitech and Dr. Cox will agree, with limited
exceptions, to refrain from competing with Sensitech for a two-year period. For
the consulting services and noncompetition covenant, Dr. Cox and an affiliated
catalogue business will each be paid $5,000 during the first month of the
agreement and Dr. Cox will be paid $10,000 per month for the remaining 23 months
of the agreement. "Proposal No. 1--To Approve the Proposed Asset Sale--Interests
of our Directors and Executive Officers."
Upon consummation of the asset sale, Brian D. Fletcher and Kurt C. Reid, both of
whom serve on our Board and as Co-Chief Executive Officers, will each enter into
Consulting and Noncompetition Agreements with Sensitech under which they each
will perform consulting services to Sensitech and each will agree not to compete
with Sensitech for a two-year period. For the consulting services and
noncompetition covenants, Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Reid each will be paid $7,500 per
month for each of the 24 months of the agreement. "Proposal No. 1--To Approve
the Proposed Asset Sale--Interests of our Directors and Executive Officers."
Dr. Cox, Mr. Reid and Mr. Fletcher currently hold stock options on common stock
of the company. The Board of Directors has indicated that it intends to
accelerate the vesting of in-the-money stock options in order to incentivize
holders to remain with the company through closing of the asset sale. The
acceleration will result in a total of 726,000 stock options held by Dr. Cox,
Mr. Reid and Mr. Fletcher becoming vested that otherwise would not have been
vested at the time of the closing of the asset sale. The estimated cost to the
Company of such acceleration is $43,560. The Board of Directors has indicated
that it will allow the holders of in-the-money stock options to forfeit their
options and receive a cash payment equal to the difference between the exercise
price and the total cash distribution per share that the Board of Directors
estimates will ultimately be paid to shareholders. The total of such payments to
Messrs. Cox, Reid and Fletcher would be $108,000 based on an estimated
distribution to shareholders of $.17 per share. "Proposal No. 1--To Approve the
Proposed Asset Sale--Interests of our Directors and Executive Officers."
In March 2000, we entered into an agreement with Technology Investors, LLC
("TI") whereby TI loaned $2,500,000 to Cox Technologies and we issued to TI a
10% subordinated convertible promissory note in the amount of $2,500,000, the
entire principal and interest of which are due on March 10, 2005. Alternatively,
the principal amount of the TI note and interest on the note may be converted,
at the option of the holder, into shares of Cox Technologies common stock at a
conversion price of $1.25 per share. Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Reid are the managers
of TI and each has a significant ownership interest in TI. As of December 31,
2003, the principal and accrued interest of the TI note was $3,596,609. If the
asset sale is consummated, the TI note will be repaid in full. Assuming
repayment on March 26, 2004, the amount of the payment would be $3,674,800. See
"Proposal No. 1--To Approve the Proposed Asset Sale--Interests of our Directors
and Executive Officers."
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In the course of negotiations of the asset Purchase Agreement, Sensitech
indicated that it would be beneficial to their transition of customers to have
available to them the services of David Caskey, President of the Cox Recorder
Division. In addition, to help ensure that Mr. Caskey does not terminate his
employment with Cox Technologies prior to the consummation of the Asset Purchase
Agreement, Sensitech has agreed to offer Mr. Caskey employment for no less than
a 91 day time period. Under the employment agreement, Mr. Caskey is to perform
services to Sensitech in relation to transfer of customers from Cox Technologies
to Sensitech and servicing those customers. The employment agreement provides
that Mr. Caskey will be compensated $7,500 per month and will be entitled to
reimbursement of reasonable expenses. He will receive one week of vacation and
other benefits provided to other employees of Sensitech. "Proposal No. 1--To
Approve the Proposed Asset Sale--Interests of our Directors and Executive
Officers."
Q. What are the material conditions to the consummation of the asset sale?
The Asset Purchase Agreement contains closing conditions related to the
following: each party's representations and warranties remain true, each party
has complied with its covenants, we shall have had net revenues from operations
relating to the assets being sold in the asset sale of $8 million for the four
fiscal quarters preceding closing, Dr. Cox, Brian Fletcher and Kurt Reid shall
have executed their respective Consulting and Noncompetition Agreements, the
parties shall have received any third party or governmental consents required
for the consummation of the transaction and consents pertaining to the transfer
of certain of the assumed contracts, no legal action is pending that would
prevent the closing, we shall have received shareholder approval of the asset
sale, and each party shall have delivered appropriate documents and certificates
set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement.
The asset sale is not conditioned upon the plan of dissolution being approved.
If our shareholders do not also approve the plan of dissolution, we will
complete the asset sale to Sensitech if our shareholders approve it and the
other closing conditions are met. See "Proposal No. 1--To Approve the Proposed
Asset Sale--Other Terms."
Q. What are the material terms of the plan of dissolution?
A: The plan of dissolution provides that the Board of Directors will liquidate
our assets in accordance with any applicable provision of the North Carolina
Business Corporation Act. Without limiting the flexibility of the Board of
Directors, the Board of Directors may, at its option, instruct our officers to
follow the procedures set forth in the North Carolina Business Corporation Act
to:
o collect our assets;
o dispose of properties that will not be distributed in kind to our
shareholders;
o discharge or make provision for discharging our liabilities;
o distribute our remaining property among our shareholders according to their
interests;
o notify known claimants in writing of the dissolution;
o publish notice of our dissolution and request that persons with claims
against us present them in accordance with the notice;
o take every other act necessary to wind up and liquidate or business and
affairs.
The Board of Directors is granted broad powers under the plan of dissolution and
granted a great amount of discretion in exercising those powers, including the
right to revoke the articles of dissolution within 120 days after they are filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina. The North Carolina
Business Corporation Act does not limit the Board of Directors with respect to
the reasons for revoking the articles of dissolution.
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Q: What will happen if the plan of dissolution is approved?
A: If the plan of dissolution is approved, subsequent to closing the Asset
Purchase Agreement and after we fulfill certain manufacturing obligations to
Sensitech for a transitional period anticipated to end no later than June 1,
2004, we will file Articles of Dissolution with the North Carolina Secretary of
State, complete the liquidation of our remaining assets, satisfy (or make
provisions to satisfy) our remaining obligations and make distributions to our
shareholders of any available liquidation proceeds. See "Proposal No. 2--To
Approve the Plan of Complete Liquidation and Dissolution--Principal Provisions
of the Plan."
Q: When will shareholders receive any payment from our liquidation?
A: Subject to closing the asset sale and to the shareholder approval of the plan
of dissolution, we anticipate that an initial distribution of liquidation
proceeds will be made to our shareholders in the second or third calendar
quarter of 2004. Thereafter, as we liquidate our remaining assets and properties
we will distribute liquidation proceeds, if any, to our shareholders as the
Board of Directors deems appropriate. We anticipate that the majority of the
remaining liquidation proceeds will be distributed before December 31, 2004. See
"Proposal No. 2--To Approve the Plan of Complete Liquidation and
Dissolution--Liquidating Distributions; Nature; Amount; Timing."
Q Who will receive payments from our liquidation?
A: We intend to close our stock transfer books and discontinue recording
transfers of our common stock at the close of business on the date we file the
Articles of Dissolution with the North Carolina Secretary of State, referred to
as the "final record date." The articles of dissolution will be filed at such
time as the Board of Directors, in its absolute discretion deems necessary,
appropriate or desirable. It is anticipated that the final record date will be
in the second or third calendar quarter of 2004. Thereafter, certificates
representing our common stock shall not be assignable or transferable on our
books except by will, intestate succession or operation of law. The
proportionate interests of all of our shareholders shall be fixed on the basis
of their respective stock holdings at the close of business on the final record
date, and, after the final record date, any distributions made by us shall be
made solely to the shareholders of record at the close of business on the final
record date, except as may be necessary to reflect subsequent transfers recorded
on our books as a result of any assignments by will, intestate succession or
operation of law. See "Proposal No. 2--to Approve the Plan of Complete
Liquidation and Dissolution--Factors to be Considered by Shareholders in
Deciding Whether to Approve the Plan--Our stock transfer books will close on the
date we file the Articles of Dissolution with the North Carolina Secretary of
State, after which it will not be possible for shareholders to publicly trade
our stock."
Q: What is the amount of the payment that shareholders will receive from our
liquidation?
A: Assuming that the asset sale is consummated on the terms described in this
proxy statement, and that we complete our dissolution by the end of 2004, we
estimate that the amount ultimately distributed to our shareholders will be in
the range of $0.15 to $0.19 per share. The range of $0.15 to $0.19 per share is
based on our estimates of the total consideration Sensitech will pay us in the
asset sale, our existing cash reserves, our liabilities and what our revenues
and expenses will be from the closing date of the sale until our final
dissolution. Factors that may affect the per share distribution amount to
shareholders include the amount of the purchase price adjustment, if any, and
the actual amount of expenses we incur for such things as legal and accounting
fees, operating expenses and expenses related to the proposed transaction,
amount of other revenues from operation and sale of assets not transferred in
the asset sale, as well as other liabilities we incur that would reduce the per
share distribution amount. For a more thorough discussion of the estimated
payments to shareholders and the assumptions made in reaching the $0.15 to $0.19
range, See "Proposal No. 2--To Approve the Plan of Complete Liquidation and
Dissolution--Liquidating Distributions; Nature; Amount; Timing" and "--Estimated
Distribution to Shareholders."
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Q. What are the interests of officers and directors in the liquidation?
A: Following the filing of the Articles of Dissolution with the North Carolina
Secretary of State, we will continue to indemnify each of our current and former
directors and officers to the extent required under North Carolina law and our
Articles of Incorporation as in effect immediately prior to the filing of the
Articles of Dissolution. In addition, we intend to maintain our current
directors' and officers' insurance policy through the date of dissolution and to
obtain runoff coverage for an additional five years after filing the Articles of
Dissolution. We have received a quote of $212,000 for such insurance coverage.
Our Board of Directors will take such steps as they deem necessary in order to
retain personnel required to complete the orderly dissolution, including
providing necessary and reasonable compensation for such services under such
circumstances. Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Reid will likely be included in the
personnel retained to complete the dissolution and liquidation. There are
currently no agreements with any individuals regarding services to be performed
or compensation to be paid in relation to the dissolution and liquidation. The
Board of directors has no plans to provide incentives to such individuals or to
compensate them at any rate above current compensation levels. See "Proposal No.
2--To Approve the Plan of Complete Liquidation and dissolution--Possible effects
of the Approval of the Plan upon Directors and Executive Officers."
Q: What will happen if the asset sale is not approved?
A: We will review all options for continuing operations, and we will potentially
seek to sell our stock or assets to a third party. There can be no assurance
that any third party will offer to purchase the assets for a price equal to or
greater than the price proposed to be paid by Sensitech in the asset sale, or
that the assets can be sold at all. See ""Proposal No. 1--To Approve the
Proposed Asset Sale--Other Terms."
Q: Is the liquidation conditioned upon the completion of the asset sale to
Sensitech?
A: Yes. The liquidation as currently proposed is conditioned upon completion of
the asset sale to Sensitech. If the asset sale to Sensitech is not approved by
our shareholders or is not consummated for other reasons, we will review all
possibilities for the continued operations or sale of our business and will not
necessarily complete the liquidation of our assets. It is uncertain what amount
would be received upon the sale of our assets, when such amounts would be
received, if such amount would be enough to pay all of our outstanding
liabilities, or if there would be any funds available to distribute to
shareholders thereafter. See "Proposal No. 2--To Approve the Plan of Complete
Liquidation and Dissolution--Principal Provisions of the Plan."
Q: Is the asset sale to Sensitech conditioned upon the liquidation being
approved?
A: No. The asset sale to Sensitech is not conditioned upon the liquidation being
approved. See "Proposal No. 1--To Approve the Proposed Asset Sale--Other Terms."
Q: What will happen if the asset sale is approved but the plan of dissolution is
not approved?
A: After the sale of assets to Sensitech, we will have no assets with which to
generate revenue. If the plan of dissolution is not approved, we will complete
the sale of substantially all of our assets, including our products,
intellectual property rights, trade names, certain assumed contracts, inventory,
receivables and tangible personal property to Sensitech, and we would use the
cash received from the asset sale to pay ongoing operating expenses instead of
making a distribution to shareholders pursuant to the plan of dissolution. It is
also expected that Sensitech will hire some of our employees. We would have no
business or operations after the transfer of our assets, other than certain
transitional manufacturing obligations to Sensitech for a period anticipated to
end no later than June 1, 2004. Thereafter, we will have retained only those
employees required to maintain our corporate existence. We do not intend to
invest in another operating business. See "Proposal No.
1--To Approve the Proposed Asset Sale--Other Terms."
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Q: What has happened to the Vitsab product line?
A. On January 29, 2004, we sold our assets relating to the Vitsab product line
(other than accounts receivable) to Rask Holding ApS for a purchase price of
$175,000 plus assumed liabilities. In the transaction, Rask Holding acquired all
of the assets associated with the Vitsab division, except cash and accounts
receivable, and assumed all liabilities relating to the Vitsab division, except
liabilities associated with a raw material purchase from a specific vendor and
for taxes resulting from operations of the Vitsab division prior to January 29,
2004. In payment of the purchase price, Rask Holding delivered a promissory note
in the amount of $175,000 payable in full on February 16, 2004. As a result of
the sale of the Vitsab product line, the Asset Purchase Agreement now
contemplates the sale of substantially all of our assets to Sensitech. See
"Proposal No. 1--To Approve the Proposed Asset Sale--General."
Q: What is the Board of Directors' recommendation with respect to the asset sale
proposal and the plan of dissolution proposal?
A: Our Board of Directors recommends a vote " FOR " approval of the asset sale
and "FOR" approval of the plan of dissolution. See "Proposal No. 1--To Approve
the Proposed Asset Sale--Vote Required and Board Recommendation" and "Proposal
No. 2--To Approve the Plan of Complete Liquidation and Dissolution--Vote
Required and Board Recommendation."
Q: Why does the Board of Directors believe the asset sale and plan of
dissolution are in the best interest of Cox Technologies shareholders?
A: The Board considered the risks and challenges facing the company in the
future as compared to the opportunities available to the company in the future
and concluded that the asset sale and plan of dissolution was the best
alternative for maximizing value to our shareholders. See "Proposal 1-To Approve
the Proposed Asset Sale-Background of the Asset Sale and Dissolution of Cox
Technologies", "Proposal 1-To Approve the Proposed Asset Sale-Cox Technologies'
Reasons for the Asset Sale; Board Recommendation" and "Proposal No. 2--To
Approve the Plan of Complete Liquidation and Dissolution--Background and Reasons
for the Plan of Dissolution."
Q; What are the material federal income tax consequences of the asset sale and
the dissolution and liquidation?
A: Federal Income Taxation of Cox Technologies. Until the liquidation is
completed, we will continue to be subject to Federal income taxation on our
taxable income, if any, such as interest income, gain from the sale of our
assets or income from operations. We will recognize gain or loss with respect to
the sale of our assets in an amount equal to the fair market value of the
consideration received for each asset over our adjusted tax basis in the asset
sold. Management believes that we have sufficient usable net operating losses to
offset substantially all of any federal income or gain recognized by us for
federal income tax purposes.
Federal Income Taxation of our Shareholders. Amounts received by shareholders
pursuant to the plan of dissolution will be treated as full payment in exchange
for their shares of our common stock. Shareholders will recognize gain or loss
equal to the difference between (1) the sum of the amount of cash distributed to
them and the fair market value (at the time of distribution) of property, if
any, distributed to them, and (2) their tax basis for their shares of our common
stock. A shareholder's tax basis in his, her or its shares will depend upon
various factors, including the shareholder's cost and the amount and nature of
any distributions received with respect thereto.
The tax consequences of the plan of dissolution may vary depending upon the
particular circumstances of the shareholder. We recommend that each shareholder
consult his, her or its own tax advisor regarding the Federal income tax
consequences of the plan of dissolution as well as the state, local and foreign
tax consequences.
Q: Has anyone else considered the fairness of the sale?
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A: The Board of Directors retained Ensemble Consulting LLC, a company that
provides fairness opinions in business transactions, to provide the Board with
its fairness opinion relating to the consideration to be received by Cox
Technologies in the asset sale. Ensemble Consulting has issued its opinion to
the Board to the effect that, as of December 12, 2003 and based upon and subject
to certain assumptions, the consideration to be paid by Sensitech in the asset
sale is fair to the Cox Technologies shareholders from a financial point of
view. You should carefully read the fairness opinion that is attached as Annex
C. See "Proposal No. 1--To Approve the Proposed Asset Sale--Opinion of Ensemble
Consulting LLC."
Q: Do I have any appraisal rights in connection with the asset sale or
dissolution?
A: No. Our shareholders do not have appraisal rights in connection with the
asset sale or dissolution. See "Proposal No. 1--To Approve the Proposed Asset
Sale--Appraisal Rights."
Q: What vote is required?
A: The proposal to approve the asset sale to Sensitech requires the affirmative
vote of a majority of our outstanding shares to be approved by our shareholders.
See "Proposal No. 1--To Approve the Proposed Asset Sale--Vote Required and Board
Recommendation." The proposal to approve the plan of dissolution also requires
the affirmative vote of a majority of our outstanding shares to be approved by
our shareholders. See "Proposal No. 2--To Approve the Plan of Complete
Liquidation and Dissolution--Vote Required and Board Recommendation."
Q: What do I need to do now?
A: After carefully reading and considering the information contained in this
proxy statement, you should complete and sign your proxy and return it in the
enclosed return envelope as soon as possible so that your shares may be
represented at the meeting. A majority of shares entitled to vote must be
represented at the meeting to enable Cox Technologies to conduct business at the
meeting. See "Information Concerning Solicitation and Voting."
Q: Can I change my vote after I have mailed my signed proxy?
A: Yes. You can change your vote at any time before proxies are voted at the
meeting. You can change your vote in one of three ways. First, you can send a
written notice via registered mail to our Chief Financial Officer, John Stewart,
at our executive offices, stating that you would like to revoke your proxy.
Second, you can complete and submit a new proxy. If you choose either of these
two methods, you must submit the notice of revocation or the new proxy to us.
Third, you can attend the meeting and vote in person. See "Information
Concerning Solicitation and Voting."
Q: If my broker holds my Cox Technologies shares in "street name", will the
broker vote the shares on my behalf?
A: A broker will vote Cox Technologies shares only if the holder of these shares
provides the broker with instructions on how to vote. Shares held in "street
name" by brokers or nominees who indicate on their proxies that they do not have
discretionary authority to vote such shares as to a particular matter, referred
to as "broker non- votes," will not be voted in favor of such matter. Both the
proposal to approve the plan of dissolution and the proposal to approve the
asset sale are proposals that require the affirmative vote of a majority of our
outstanding shares to be approved by our shareholders. Accordingly, broker
non-votes will have the effect of a vote against both proposals. We encourage
all shareholders whose shares are held in street name to provide their brokers
with instructions on how to vote. See "Information Concerning Solicitation and
Voting--Quorum; Abstentions; Broker Non-Votes."
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Q: Can I still sell my shares of Cox Technologies common stock?
A: Yes. Our common stock is traded on the nationwide over-the-counter market and
is listed under the symbol "coxt.ob". We anticipate that we will request that
our common stock cease trading immediately upon the filing of the Articles of
Dissolution with the North Carolina Secretary of State, which (subject to
shareholder approval of the plan of dissolution) we anticipate will occur in
June, 2004. In addition, we will close our stock transfer books and discontinue
recording transfers of shares of our common stock at the close of business on
the date we file the Articles of Dissolution with the North Carolina Secretary
of State. Thereafter, certificates representing shares of our common stock will
not be assignable or transferable on our books except by will, intestate
succession or operation of law. See "Proposal No. 2--To Approve the Plan of
Complete Liquidation and Dissolution--Trading of the Common Stock and Interests
in the Liquidating Trust or Trusts."
Q: Who can help answer my questions?
A: If you have any questions about the Special Meeting or the proposals to be
voted on at the Special Meeting, or if you need additional copies of this proxy
statement or copies of any of our public filings referred to in this proxy
statement, you should contact Kurt Reid at (704) 825-8146 ext. 239. Our public
filings can also be accessed at the Securities and Exchange Commission's web
site at www.sec.gov. See "Additional Information."
8
COX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
69 McAdenville Road
Belmont, North Carolina 28012
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MARCH, 2004
Proxies in the form enclosed with this proxy statement are solicited by the
Board of Directors of Cox Technologies, Inc. for use at our Special Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on March, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. local time, or at any
adjournments or postponements thereof, for the purposes set forth in the
accompanying Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders. The Special Meeting will
be held at the Holiday Inn Airport, 2707 Little Rock Road, Charlotte, North
Carolina.
These proxy solicitation materials were mailed on or about February , 2004 to
all shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting.
INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING
Record Date and Voting Securities
Shareholders of record as of the record date, January 29, 2003, are entitled to
notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting. As of the record date, 38,331,825
shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding.
Revocability of Proxies
Execution of a proxy will not in any way affect a shareholder's right to attend
the Special Meeting and vote in person. Any shareholder giving a proxy has the
right to revoke it by written notice delivered to our Chief Financial Officer,
John Stewart, at our principal executive offices at any time before it is
exercised, by completing and submitting a new proxy, or by voting in person at
the Special Meeting.
Voting and Solicitation
Each share of common stock outstanding as of the record date will be entitled to
one vote and shareholders may vote in person or by proxy. At the Special
Meeting, we will be asking our shareholders to vote on a proposal to approve the
sale of substantially all of our assets to Sensitech Inc., and a proposal to
approve a Plan of Complete Liquidation and Dissolution of Cox Technologies,
including the liquidation and dissolution of Cox Technologies contemplated
thereby. We are soliciting shareholders to authorize proxies to vote with
respect to these two proposals. The proposed sale of assets to Sensitech is
referred to as "the asset sale" and the Plan of Complete Liquidation and
Dissolution and the liquidation and dissolution contemplated by that Plan are
referred to as "the plan of dissolution". Our Board of Directors knows of no
other matters to be presented at the Special Meeting. If any other matter should
be presented at the Special Meeting upon which a vote may be properly taken,
shares represented by all proxies received by the Board of Directors will be
voted with respect thereto in accordance with the judgment of the persons named
as attorneys in the proxies.
We will bear the cost of soliciting proxies. In addition, we may reimburse
brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners of shares for
their expenses in forwarding solicitation material to such beneficial owners.
Solicitation of proxies by mail may be supplemented by telephone, facsimile,
e-mail or personal solicitation by our directors, officers or regular employees.
We will not pay any additional compensation to such persons for such services.
Quorum; Abstentions; Broker Non-Votes
The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of at least a majority of the
outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting is
9
necessary to establish a quorum for the transaction of business. The Inspector
of Elections will tabulate votes cast by proxy or in person at the Special
Meeting with the assistance of our transfer agent. The Inspector of Elections
will also determine whether or not a quorum is present. Abstentions are included
in the number of shares present or represented at the Special Meeting.
Shares held in "street name" by brokers or nominees who indicate on their
proxies that they do not have discretionary authority to vote such shares as to
a particular matter, referred to as "broker non-votes," and shares which abstain
from voting as to a particular matter, will not be voted in favor of such
matters. The proposal to approve the Plan of Complete Liquidation and
Dissolution requires the affirmative vote of a majority of our outstanding
shares to be approved by our shareholders. The proposal to approve the asset
sale to Sensitech also requires the affirmative vote of a majority of our
outstanding shares to be approved by our shareholders. Accordingly, abstentions
and broker non-votes will have the effect of a vote against the proposal to
approve the Plan of Complete Liquidation and Dissolution and the proposal to
approve the asset sale to Sensitech. Broker non-votes will be counted for
purposes of determining the absence or presence of a quorum. We encourage all
shareholders whose shares are held in street name to provide their brokers with
instructions on how to vote.
CAUTION AGAINST FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This proxy statement contains certain forward-looking statements, including
statements concerning the value of our net assets, the anticipated liquidation
value per share of common stock as compared to its market price absent the
proposed liquidation, the timing and amounts of distributions of liquidation
proceeds to shareholders, the estimates of ongoing expenses, and the likelihood
of shareholder value resulting from the sale of substantially all of our assets.
We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor
provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are including this statement for purposes of
invoking these safe harbor provisions. Such forward-looking statements involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could
cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to
differ materially from our expectations of future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These
risks include the risk that we may incur additional liabilities, that the sale
of our non-cash assets could be lower than anticipated, that our expenses may be
higher than estimated and that the settlement of our liabilities could be higher
than expected, all of which would substantially reduce the distribution to our
shareholders. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in any
forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future events or
results. Except as may be required under federal law, we undertake no obligation
to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new
information becomes available or other events occur.
10
PROPOSAL NO. 1
TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED ASSET SALE
Parties to the Asset Sale
Cox Technologies, Inc.
Cox Technologies, a North Carolina corporation, is primarily engaged in the
business of producing and distributing graphic and electronic transit
temperature recording instruments, both domestically and internationally. These
temperature recorders are marketed under the trade name Cox Recorders and
produce a record that is documentary proof of temperature conditions.
Cox Technologies maintains its principal offices at 69 McAdenville Road,
Belmont, North Carolina 28012, telephone (704) 825-8146.
Sensitech Inc.
Sensitech, a Delaware corporation, is a leading provider of cold chain
monitoring, management and information solutions serving the worldwide
perishable product supply chain. The company markets and sells its services to a
broad range of customers in the food and pharmaceutical industries who are
committed to protecting the freshness, integrity and efficacy of their
temperature-sensitive products.
Sensitech maintains its principal offices at 800 Cummings Center, Suite 258X,
Beverly, Massachusetts 01915, telephone (978) 927-7033.
Cox Acquisition Corp.
Cox Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Sensitech that was formed on December 10, 2003. Sensitech formed Cox Acquisition
Corp. for the purpose of being the subsidiary entity through which Sensitech
will consummate the purchase of the Cox Technologies assets. It currently has no
business operations.
Cox Acquisition Corp. maintains its principal offices at 800 Cummings Center,
Suite 258X, Beverly, Massachusetts 01915, telephone (978) 927-7033.
General
On December 12, 2003 our Board of Directors unanimously approved the Asset
Purchase Agreement between Cox Technologies, Sensitech and Cox Acquisition
Corp., under which we agree to sell substantially all of our assets to Sensitech
(other than cash, certain equipment, furniture and our Vitsab product line) for
a total purchase price of $10,532,000 (subject to adjustment), to be paid by
Sensitech in a combination of cash and assumption of certain payables. Since
execution of the Asset Purchase Agreement, we have sold the assets relating to
the Vitsab business. The material terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement are
summarized below. A copy of the Asset Purchase Agreement is attached as Annex A
to this proxy statement. We encourage you to read the Asset Purchase Agreement
in its entirety.
On January 29, 2004, we sold our assets relating to the Vitsab product line
(other than accounts receivable) to Rask Holding ApS for a purchase price of
$175,000 plus assumed liabilities. In the transaction, Rask Holding acquired all
of the assets associated with the Vitsab division, except cash and accounts
receivable, and assumed all liabilities relating to the Vitsab division, except
liabilities associated with a raw material purchase from a specific vendor and
for taxes resulting from operations of the Vitsab division prior to January 29,
2004. In payment of the purchase price, Rask Holding delivered a promissory note
in the amount of $175,000 payable in full on February 16, 2004. As a result of
the sale of the Vitsab product line, the Asset Purchase Agreement now
contemplates the sale of substantially all of our assets to Sensitech.
11
The Asset Purchase Agreement originally provided that either party could
terminate the agreement if the asset sale was not completed within 90 days
following its execution. Certain termination fees were also tied to the 90-day
period. See "Termination; Termination Fee." The Asset Purchase Agreement was
amended on January 29, 2004 for the sole purpose of extending the 90-day period
to a 150-day period. Also on January 29, 2004, Sensitech waived any breach of
covenants contained in the Asset Purchase Agreement that would otherwise have
arisen as a result of the sale of the assets relating to the Vitsab division.
Assets to be Sold
The assets proposed to be sold to Sensitech, referred to as "the assets,"
consist of the assets currently used to operate Cox Technologies' business,
including:
o all intellectual property of any kind owned or used by Cox Technologies,
and any and all causes of action or rights to damages or other remedies
which Cox Technologies may be entitled due to infringement or
misappropriation of any such intellectual property;
o certain assumed contracts, including substantially all of our customer
contracts, vendor and third-party vendor contracts;
o accounts receivable;
o inventory;
o other designated assets;
o assumption of certain disclosed liabilities, including liabilities related
to the assumed contracts and operating costs; and
o all documents related to these assets, including all technical, regulatory,
marketing and sales related documents.
The assets to be sold do not include:
o production equipment;
o cash;
o any asset associated with oil field operations now or previously owned by
Cox Technologies;
o any right, title or interest in and to real property or real property
leases;
o office equipment, machines, tools, fixtures, furniture and computers other
than as designated; and
o corporate assets such as qualifications to do business, taxpayer
identification numbers, minute books, rights under employee benefit plans
and liabilities associated with such plans.
The Asset Purchase Agreement also excludes any assets related to the Vitsab
product line. Those assets were subsequently sold to Rask Holding ApS on
January, 29, 2004.
Purchase Price
Sensitech will pay us a total purchase price of approximately $10,532,000 for
the assets, subject to adjustments set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement.
Specifically, the purchase price may be adjusted as follows:
12
o Dollar-for-dollar to the extent the value of the receivables and
inventory being purchased less the amount of payables and certain
claims being assumed deviates from a target of $1,754,000. This
adjustment is referred to as the "Balance Sheet Adjustment."
o If current top 50 customers of Cox Technologies indicate they will not
transition all or substantially all of their business with Cox
Technologies to Sensitech and the aggregate annual revenues from those
departing customers exceeds $1,700,000, there will be a dollar-for
dollar reduction in the purchase price for each dollar in lost revenue
in excess of $1,700,000. This adjustment is referred to as the
"Customer Adjustment."
o If the net revenues of Cox Technologies for the four fiscal quarters
prior to the closing, exclusive of revenues related to the Vitsab
product line, are less than $8,000,000, Sensitech may chose not to
close the asset sale or to close the asset sale with a
dollar-for-dollar reduction in the purchase price to the extent such
net revenues are less than $8,000,000. This adjustment is referred to
as the "Revenue Adjustment."
As of December 31, 2003, the Balance Sheet Adjustment would have resulted in an
increase in the purchase price of $500,000 - $750,000. The Company believes it
is unlikely that there will be a Customer Adjustment since no adjustment will be
made unless the lost revenues exceed $1,700,000, the total annual revenues from
the top 50 customers for the period from November 1, 2002 through October 31,
2003 were $4,851,000 and, as of February 1, 2004, none of the top 50 customers
has indicated that they will not transition all or substantially all of their
business to Sensitech. Likewise, the Company believes it is unlikely that there
will be Revenue Adjustment since net revenues for the eleven months ended
December 31, 2003 (exclusive of revenues from the Vitsab product line) were
$8,448,746.
The purchase price will be paid as follows (1) $10,240,000 in cash and (2)
approximately $292,000 through the assumption of certain payables of Cox
Technologies.
We will receive approximately $9,990,000 of the cash payment at closing.
Sensitech will hold the remaining $250,000 for six months as security against
claims that may be brought as a result of any inaccuracy or omission made by Cox
Technologies in the Asset Purchase Agreement. Sensitech will pay us the
remaining $250,000 cash payment, less the amount of any claims, six months after
the closing of the asset purchase. Adjustments to the purchase price will be
payable as soon after the closing as the parties may agree on the amounts of the
adjustments, but in any event, within approximately 120 days after the closing.
Upon closing of the asset sale, the cash payable by Sensitech for our assets
will be paid from Sensitech's cash reserves and proceeds from bank financing.
After the closing of the asset sale, and following the expiration of our
manufacturing obligations described below, we will, subject to approval by our
shareholders of Proposal 2, wind up our operating business, effect a complete
liquidation and dissolution of the company, and distribute any remaining cash to
our shareholders.
Our estimate of the range of proceeds distributed to shareholders assumes that
there will be a Balance Sheet Adjustment resulting in an increase of the
purchase price of between $500,000 and $750,000, a Customer Adjustment resulting
in a reduction in the purchase price of between $0 and $200,000 and that there
will be no Revenue Adjustment. See "Proposal No. 2--To Approve the Plan of
Liquidation and Dissolution--Estimated Distribution to Shareholders.") If the
actual purchase price adjustment is outside that range, the distribution to
shareholders may be less than $0.15 or greater than $0.19 per share.
Manufacturing Services
In connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement, we have agreed to provide
manufacturing services to Sensitech for a transition period pursuant to the
terms of a Manufacturing Services Agreement. The Manufacturing Services
Agreement provides that we will continue to manufacture products under our
existing specifications for a period from the closing date of the asset sale
through June 1, 2004, unless terminated earlier by Sensitech, or unless we agree
to extend the term of the Manufacturing Services Agreement. Nothing in the
Manufacturing Services Agreement prohibits Sensitech from continuing to
manufacture and sell Cox products after June 1, 2004. The Manufacturing Services
Agreement provides that Sensitech will request orders consistent with our
production capabilities. In the Manufacturing Services Agreement we make no
representations or warranties other than that we will manufacture products in a
manner consistent with past practice and that Sensitech's sole remedy for any
product defect is the replacement or repair of the product. The Manufacturing
Services Agreement provides that Sensitech will pay rates for the manufacturing
services that are intended to cover all costs associated with performing the
manufacturing services. The agreements with Messrs. Cox, Caskey, Fletcher and
Reid are designed, in part, to assure that Sensitech can properly service Cox
customers after the asset sale and to continue to supply Cox products after the
asset sale should it so choose.
13
Indemnification
Under the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement we have agreed to indemnify
Sensitech and its affiliates against any liabilities, including reasonable legal
fees and expenses that Sensitech may incur (1) if we breach any of the
representations and warranties or fail to perform any of the covenants or any
agreement contained in the Asset Purchase Agreement, (2) resulting from any
intentional tort, including fraud, willful misconduct or our bad faith in
connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement or (3) environmental liabilities.
Except if we commit fraud or a willful breach of any representations or
warranties under the Asset Purchase Agreement, our indemnification obligations
are capped at a total of $250,000 and survive for six months after the closing.
Furthermore, Cox Technologies is not required to indemnify Sensitech unless and
until losses exceed $25,000, and then from the first dollar to the full extent
of such losses up to the $250,000 cap.
Interests of our Directors and Executive Officers
Upon consummation of the asset sale, Dr. James L. Cox, our Chairman, President
and Chief Technology Officer and Sensitech will enter into a Consulting and
Noncompetition Agreement under which Dr. Cox will perform consulting services to
Sensitech as reasonably requested by Sensitech during the first three months
after the closing of the asset sale and up to three days per calendar quarter
for the following seven calendar quarters. In the agreement, Dr. Cox will also
agree not to compete with Sensitech for a two-year period, except with respect
to the Vitsab product line and certain products sold through a catalogue
business owned by Dr. Cox and his wife. For the consulting services and
noncompetition covenant, Dr. Cox and the catalogue business will each be paid
$5,000 during the first month of the agreement and Dr. Cox will be paid $10,000
per month for the remaining 23 months of the agreement.
Upon consummation of the asset sale, Brian D. Fletcher and Kurt C. Reid, both of
whom serve on our Board and as Co-Chief Executive Officers, will each enter into
Consulting and Noncompetition Agreements with Sensitech under which they each
will perform consulting services to Sensitech as reasonably requested by
Sensitech during the first three months after the closing of the asset sale and
up to three days per calendar quarter for the following seven calendar quarters.
In the agreements, Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Reid will also agree not to compete with
Sensitech for a two-year period. For the consulting services and noncompetition
covenants, Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Reid each will be paid $7,500 per month for each
of the 24 months of the agreement.
Dr. Cox, Mr. Reid and Mr. Fletcher currently hold stock options on common stock
of the Company. The Board of Directors has indicated that it intends to
accelerate the vesting of in-the-money stock options in order to incentivize
holders to remain with the company through closing of the asset sale. The Board
of Directors intends to accelerate 462,000 stock options that are in-the-money
stock options such that in-the-money stock options held by individuals who are
not members of the Board of directors will become fully-vested if such holders
remain in good standing with the Company and continue their employment with the
Company until their employment is terminated by the Company. The estimated cost
to the Company of such acceleration of vesting is $30,120. The in-the-money
stock options held by Messrs. Cox, Reid and Fletcher would also be accelerated
such that 60% percent of those options will be vested if they remain in good
standing with the Company and continue their employment with the Company until
their employment is terminated by the Company. The acceleration will result in a
total of 726,000 stock options held by Dr. Cox, Mr. Reid and Mr. Fletcher
becoming vested that otherwise would not have been vested at the time of the
closing of the asset sale. The estimated cost to the Company of such
acceleration is $43,560. The Board of Directors has indicated that it will allow
the holders of in-the-money stock options to forfeit their options and receive a
cash payment equal to the difference between the exercise price and the total
cash distribution per share that the Board of Directors estimates will
ultimately be paid to shareholders. The cost estimates in this paragraph are
based on an estimated distribution to shareholders of $.17 per share. The total
of such payments would be $154,800 of which Messrs. Cox, Reid and Fletcher would
receive $108,000.
In March 2000, we entered into an agreement with Technology Investors, LLC
("TI") whereby TI loaned $2,500,000 to Cox Technologies and we issued to TI a
10% subordinated convertible promissory note in the amount of $2,500,000, the
entire principal and interest of which are due on March 10, 2005. Alternatively,
the principal amount of the TI note and interest on the note may be converted,
at the option of the holder, into shares of Cox Technologies common stock at a
14
conversion price of $1.25 per share. Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Reid are the managers
of TI and each has a significant ownership interest in TI. As of December 31,
2003, the principal and accrued interest of the TI note was $3,596,609. If the
asset sale is consummated and the liquidation and dissolution of the company is
completed, it is anticipated that all creditors of the company will receive full
payment from the company, including payments to TI under the TI note. Assuming
repayment on March 26, 2004, the amount of such payment would be $3,674,800, or
approximately 35% of the purchase price in the asset sale.
In the course of negotiations of the asset Purchase Agreement, Sensitech
indicated that it would be beneficial to their transition of customers to have
available to them the services of David Caskey, President of the Cox Recorder
Division. In addition, to help ensure that Mr. Caskey does not terminate his
employment with Cox Technologies prior to the consummation of the Asset Purchase
Agreement, Sensitech has agreed to offer Mr. Caskey employment for no less than
a 91 day time period. Under the employment agreement, Mr. Caskey is to perform
services to Sensitech in relation to transfer of customers from Cox Technologies
to Sensitech and servicing those customers. The employment agreement provides
that Mr. Caskey will be compensated $7,500 per month and will be entitled to
reimbursement of reasonable expenses. He will receive one week of vacation and
other benefits provided to other employees of Sensitech.
The agreements with Messrs. Cox, Caskey, Fletcher and Reid are designed, in
part, to assure that Sensitech can properly service Cox customers after the
asset sale and to continue to supply Cox products after the asset sale should it
so choose.
Non-Solicitation
We have agreed that we will not solicit, initiate, or encourage or participate
in any discussions or negotiations regarding or otherwise cooperate with any
person concerning any proposal or offer to acquire all or a substantial part of
our business. However, in the event that a person makes an unsolicited
acquisition proposal, we may furnish information and participate in discussions
and negotiations regarding such an acquisition proposal, if the Board of
Directors determines in good faith, after receiving written advice from outside
counsel, that such action would, under applicable law, be consistent with the
exercise of the Board's fiduciary duties.
Termination; Termination Fee
The Asset Purchase Agreement provides that it may be terminated by Cox
Technologies, Sensitech and Cox Acquisition Corp. by mutual written consent. The
Asset Purchase Agreement may also be terminated by Sensitech and Cox Acquisition
Corp. if (1) Cox Technologies has breached any of its representations,
warranties or covenants in any material respect and has not cured such breach
within 15 days of notice of breach, (2) the closing of the asset sale shall not
have occurred on or before the 150th day from the date of the Asset Purchase
Agreement because one or more of the conditions to Sensitech's obligations have
not been met, or (3) at any time prior to closing current top 50 customers of
Cox Technologies indicate they will not transition all or substantially all of
their business with Cox Technologies to Sensitech and the aggregate annual
revenues from those departing customers exceeds $2,500,000. In addition, the
Asset Purchase Agreement may be terminated by Cox Technologies if (1) Sensitech
or Cox Acquisition Corp. has breached any of its representations, warranties or
covenants in any material respect and has not cured such breach within 15 days
of notice of breach, (2) the closing of the asset sale shall not have occurred
on or before the 150th day from the date of the Asset Purchase Agreement because
one or more of the conditions to Cox Technologies' obligation to close have not
been met, or (3) an action, suit or proceeding has been brought seeking to
prevent, rescind or adversely affect the asset sale.
If we terminate the Asset Purchase Agreement for any reason other than a
material breach of the agreement by Sensitech or Cox Acquisition Corp., or if we
materially breach the Asset Purchase Agreement and Sensitech subsequently
terminates the Asset Purchase Agreement, and within twelve months from the date
of termination for either such reason we consummate an alternative transaction
involving the direct or indirect sale of all or substantially all of our assets
(including by merger, exchange or similar transaction), we will be obligated to
pay Sensitech a termination fee of $350,000. The termination fee would also be
due if we materially breach any provision of the Asset Purchase Agreement and do
not subsequently consummate the asset sale within 150 days following the date of
the Asset Purchase Agreement.
In the event that either Sensitech or Cox Acquisition Corp. terminates the Asset
Purchase Agreement or takes actions so as to prevent the consummation of the
asset sale, for any reason other than a material breach of any provision of the
Asset Purchase Agreement by Cox Technologies, Sensitech will be obligated to pay
us a termination fee of $350,000.
15
Other Terms
In the Asset Purchase Agreement, Cox Technologies makes representations and
warranties to Sensitech including regarding our corporate status, authority to
complete the asset sale, contracts being assumed by Sensitech, intellectual
property, financial statements, liabilities, litigation, insurance, inventory,
accounts receivable, customers, resellers and suppliers, environmental matters,
tax matters, product claims and warranties and title to the assets being sold.
Sensitech makes representations and warranties to Cox Technologies regarding
Sensitech's corporate status and authority to complete the asset sale.
Cox Technologies also agrees that between signing the Asset Purchase Agreement
and closing the transaction we will preserve the assets and business operations,
provide Sensitech with access to information related to the assets, not modify
any material contracts or enter into material commitments other than in the
ordinary course, not encumber our assets, and otherwise not make changes to our
business.
The Asset Purchase Agreement also contains closing conditions related to the
following: each party's representations and warranties remain true, each party
has complied with its covenants, we shall have had net revenues from operations
relating to the assets being sold in the asset sale of $8 million for the four
fiscal quarters preceding closing, Dr. Cox, Brian Fletcher and Kurt Reid shall
have executed their respective Consulting and Noncompetition Agreements, the
parties shall have received any third party or governmental consents required
for the consummation of the transaction and consents pertaining to the transfer
of certain of the assumed contracts, no legal action is pending that would
prevent the closing, we shall have received shareholder approval of the asset
sale, and each party shall have delivered appropriate documents and certificates
set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement.
The asset sale is not conditioned upon the plan of dissolution being approved.
If our shareholders do not also approve the plan of dissolution, we will
complete the asset sale to Sensitech if our shareholders approve it and the
other closing conditions are met. We anticipate the asset sale will close within
five business days after the Special Meeting.
Our liquidation and dissolution is conditioned upon completion of the asset sale
to Sensitech. If the proposed asset sale to Sensitech is not approved by the
shareholders or is otherwise not completed we will not complete the liquidation
of our remaining assets and will explore all alternatives for continuing to
operate our business. We may seek to sell the assets proposed to be sold in an
asset sale to a third party since our cash flow from operations is currently not
adequate to retire the TI note, and it is unlikely that cash flow will increase
in an amount sufficient for us to meet our obligations under the TI note when
the principal and accrued interest become due on March 10, 2005. There can be no
assurance that any third party will offer to purchase the assets for a price
equal to or greater than the price proposed to be paid by Sensitech in the asset
sale, or that such assets can be sold at all.
In the event the plan of dissolution is not approved and the asset sale is
approved, we will have transferred substantially all of our business and
contracts to Sensitech and will not have operations to generate revenue, and
will not have been authorized by the shareholders to distribute the proceeds
from the asset sale. With no plan of liquidation approved, we would use the cash
received from the Asset Purchase Agreement to pay ongoing operating expenses
instead of making a distribution to shareholders pursuant to the plan of
dissolution.
If our shareholders approve the asset sale to Sensitech and approve the plan of
dissolution, we plan to file the Articles of Dissolution with the North Carolina
Secretary of State once our manufacturing obligations to Sensitech end
(anticipated to be on or before June 1, 2004).
If the asset sale is not approved by our shareholders at the Special Meeting, we
will review all options for continuing operations, and we will potentially seek
to sell our stock or assets to a third party. There can be no assurance that any
third party will offer to purchase the assets for a price equal to or greater
than the price proposed to be paid by Sensitech in the asset sale, or that the
assets can be sold at all.
The following resolution will be offered at the Special Meeting:
"RESOLVED, THAT THE ASSET SALE, PURSUANT TO THE ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT, TO
SENSITECH BE APPROVED."
16
Background of the Asset Sale and Dissolution of Cox Technologies
Sensitech first contacted Cox Technologies about a possible combination or
acquisition in January 1998. The two sides met at Sensitech's facilities on
February 3, 1998. At that time both companies believed that their own companies
had excellent growth opportunities, strong products, and competitive market
positions. Whether the "possible combination" would be done as a Cox
Technologies sale of assets or stock was never determined, as the companies
could not agree on Cox's value. Because no mutually agreeable arrangement could
be reached, discussions ended in late September, 1998.
In June of 1998, Cox Technologies purchased the Vitsab assets from a European
company. After the purchase, Cox Technologies expended time and money to set up
the Vitsab manufacturing operations in our Belmont facility and to further
develop Vitsab and to expand sales efforts for Vitsab.
During the period from 1998 through 2001 Cox Technologies also expended
substantial sums of money attempting to develop and market other innovative
products, including EDS, RealTime Alert, QualTag, Funatix and FreshTag. Research
and development costs were $345,393, $409,362 and $407,044 for the fiscal years
ended April 30, 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively. With the exception of Vitsab,
efforts to develop each of the new products were eventually halted and virtually
no revenue was ever generated from any of those products. Vitsab revenues were
$175,222 for the six months ended October 31, 2003 and $278,913, $111,788,
$4,436 and $3,190 for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2003, 2002, 2001 and
2000, respectively.
These expenditures and lack or revenue generated from these expenditures
resulted in the cash flow difficulties for most of the period since 1998,
followed by balance sheet difficulties resulting from borrowings required to
make up for the negative cash flow. Net cash provided by (used in) operations of
Cox Technologies was $438,828 for the six months ended October 31, 2003 and
$590,381, ($356,522), ($2,857,779), ($1,403,406) and $403,021 for the fiscal
years ended April 30, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively. While the
cash flow situation has improved, the Company's cash flow from operations is
currently not adequate to retire the TI Note, and it is unlikely that cash flow
could increase in an amount sufficient for the Company to meet its obligations
under the TI Note when the principal and accrued interest become due on March
10, 2005.
Discussions of a possible combination resumed on April 23, 1999, when Sensitech
proposed that it acquire certain assets of Cox Technologies. Sensitech's Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer met with Dr. Cox in North Carolina
on June 2, 1999 to share current Sensitech and Cox Technologies business and
financial information, as well as to discuss the potential advantages of
completing a deal with Sensitech. While Dr. Cox expressed greater receptivity to
an asset sale to Sensitech, the companies did not advance discussions to the
point of ascertaining mutually-agreeable value of the Cox Technologies assets.
We broke off discussions on July 8, 1999 because we believed we had secured a
commitment for new financing of our research and development efforts, which we
viewed as taking some of the financial pressure off of the Company. Given the
reduced financial pressure we were not interested at that time in a transaction
structured as an asset sale.
Throughout 1999 we made significant efforts to procure a major source of
capital. In July of 1999, we believed that we had secured funding in excess of
$6 million. However, the financing was conditioned upon events that ultimately
did not materialize, and we did not receive the funding. By late 1999, due to
the Vitsab expenditures and research and development expenditures on other
products, our operations were producing negative cash flow and our cash reserves
were nearly depleted.
During 1999, we entered into discussions with another group of investors led by
Mr. Brian Fletcher and Mr. Kurt Reid, who are currently our Co-Chief Executive
Officers. These discussions resulted in their group, TI, investing $2,500,000
and we issued the TI note. For further information regarding the TI note, please
refer to the section titled "Interests of our Directors and Executive Officers."
We planned to use the majority of the proceeds from the TI funding for the
continued development of our Vitsab operations and the development of our new
proprietary data logger called EDS. However, due to our depleted cash reserves,
by the time the TI funding took place in March of 2000, we were behind on
payments to many of our vendors as well as other obligations. As a result, a
portion of the TI funding was consumed immediately to fulfill these obligations.
17
Throughout the remainder of 2000, we focused heavily on, and expended a majority
of the remaining balance of the TI funding on the development of Vitsab and EDS.
When we initiated the EDS project we hired two key engineers to design the EDS
logger and associated software. We also committed to pay legal fees of those two
engineers for their defense in an ongoing legal proceeding between those
engineers and Ryan Instruments, L.P., an industry competitor.
In September of 2000, Sensitech acquired Ryan Instruments. Shortly after
Sensitech purchased Ryan Instruments, our legal costs increased dramatically in
this dispute due to an escalation in the number of depositions being taken at
multiple venues, as the parties prepared for a pending trial date in the spring
of 2001. This significant increase in our legal costs caused our cash reserves
to decline more rapidly.
On January 5, 2001, Sensitech commenced a lawsuit against Cox Technologies,
alleging among other things, that Cox Technologies' new data logger, EDS,
violated one or more Sensitech patents. The parties settled the litigation on
February 2, 2001 pursuant to an arrangement whereby Cox Technologies agreed to
delay the market introduction of EDS and to pay royalties to Sensitech on any
future sales of EDS. The litigation between Ryan Instruments and the two
engineers was settled at approximately the same time.
The combination of high research and development and litigation expenses and
little revenue from new products, resulted in our cash reserves again being
nearly depleted at the time the Sensitech litigation was settled as nearly all
of the $2,500,000 from the TI funding had been expended. The company also
continued to have negative cash flow from operations. Immediately after settling
the Sensitech lawsuit, Cox Technologies management focused heavily on cutting
expenses and concentrated marketing efforts on it's core traditional products in
the Cox Recorder division, as well as continued, yet less intense, marketing of
Vitsab. To date, no significant revenues have materialized from Vitsab and we
continue to bear the costs of debt incurred to fund the Vitsab operation.
On December 11, 2001, Sensitech sent a letter of intent to Cox Technologies
offering to purchase most of Cox Technologies' assets for $3 million in cash.
Sensitech did not seek to purchase the Company's Vitsab or oil assets. Cox
declined this offer, indicating to Sensitech that the offer was substantially
below what would be necessary to begin discussions. During the balance of 2001
and the first quarter of 2002, management continued to seek capital investments
or loans.
On January 9, 2002, Sensitech sent a revised letter of intent to Cox
Technologies, increasing the aggregate purchase price to $6.1 million, of which
$1.5 million was in the form of estimated future royalty payments.
The Cox Technologies Board of Directors determined that the Sensitech offer was
inadequate because it was insufficient to satisfy all of Cox Technologies' then
existing debt. In addition, a transaction on those terms would leave the company
with the liability of disposing of the minimally producing oil subleases and,
because the company would be left with no operating business as a revenue
stream, there would be no viable means to return any value to shareholders. On
January 16, 2002 Cox Technologies advised Sensitech that it would not entertain
discussions regarding any offer less than $8.1 million. Cox Technologies
reiterated this position on February 6, 2002 in response to further inquiries
from Sensitech.
On May 8, 2002, the Board of Directors received a report from Mr. Reid and Mr.
Fletcher listing 17 potential financing sources that had been contacted
regarding potential investment in Cox Technologies, all of whom had declined the
opportunity.
Throughout the summer of 2002, discussions were held between a Special Committee
of the Board of Directors of Cox Technologies, comprised of the non-employee
members of the Cox board, and Mr. Reid and Mr. Fletcher, as representatives of
TI, regarding a potential investment by TI. The Special Committee and Messrs.
Reid and Fletcher could not agree on terms for an investment by TI and the
Special Committee determined that it would be appropriate to seek other
potential sources of funding from other investors.
In July 2002, Cox Technologies' principal bank, RBC Centura, notified the
company that the company's loans had been moved to the banks "Special Assets"
division because the company's loans were significantly under collateralized.
Ultimately RBC Centura informed the Company that the Company must develop a
method to reduce the aggregate balance on its bank loans from approximately $2.0
million to $1.215 million. The bank stated that the company's failure to do so
would result in the bank taking action up to and possibly including forcing the
company into bankruptcy.
On July 5, 2002 investment packages were sent to six potential institutional
investors. None of the potential investors expressed an interest in investing in
the company. From August to October 2002, seven asset-based lenders were
contacted regarding a possible loan to Cox Technologies. Two of the asset-based
lenders did not submit proposals.
18
In September 2002 Cox Technologies sold its oil subleases, thereby relieving the
company of a non-core business and eliminating potential liabilities that would
be an impediment to producing shareholder value.
On October 15, 2002 a final update of the loan proposals submitted from five
asset-based lenders and a worksheet to compare those proposals was distributed
to the Board of Directors. On October 18, 2002, the Board of Directors met to
discuss the five asset-based loan proposals submitted. The Special Committee of
the Board of Directors believed the onerous terms contained in the proposals
exposed Cox Technologies to substantial risk without solving the company's need
for adequate working capital. These terms included the requirement that Cox
Technologies customers make payment direct to the relevant bank through a
lockbox arrangement, interest rates that were substantially higher than our
existing bank debt and loan-to-collateral ratios that put availability of funds
at risk. Because of this concern, the Board of Directors decided not to accept
any of the asset-based loan proposals and instead pursued an equity investment.
Six investment banks were contacted with regard to the project. Three of the six
investment banks indicated that they would be unable to raise capital for the
Company. The other three investment banks submitted proposals regarding their
attempts to raise capital on a best efforts basis. None of the proposals
provided assurance that any capital would be raised.
In March 2003 Cox Technologies raised $750,000 by selling 12,500,000 shares of
its common stock to TI, at a price of $.06 per share, which was two times the
$.03 trading price the day prior to announcing the transaction. The proceeds
from this transaction were used to satisfy RBC Centura's requirement to reduce
its loan balance.
During the two-year period from March 2001 to March 2003, Cox Technologies had
improved its financial condition by substantially reducing corporate expenses,
disposing of the oil subleases and reducing bank debt. However, because of its
financial condition during this period, the company was unable to fund research
and development efforts. At the same time, the company managed to maintain
revenues in its core products in what had become a dramatically more price
competitive market. While revenues had remained fairly steady, the inability to
fund research and development resulted in the company having no new proprietary
products. During this same time period, a number of potential competitors made
significant technological advances with new and innovative products, which we
believe pose serious threats to our ability to effectively compete in the
markets we serve in the future.
For a number of decades, the traditional device used to monitor temperature in
the markets we serve has been a mechanical recorder known in the industry as a
graphic recorder. Until 2000, at least 95% of our annual revenue was derived
from sale of our proprietary graphic recorder that we manufacture and sell. In
the early 1990's competitors began developing the next generation of technology
known as the electronic data logger. We purchase all of our electronic data
loggers from third party vendors and have no proprietary products of our own in
this field.
Cox Technologies management believes that sales of electronic data loggers will
continue to increase while sales of graphic recorders will continue to decrease
but that the increased sales of data loggers will be at reduced prices as the
market matures. Because we rely on third party vendors for our supply of
electronic data loggers we are at a disadvantage in this portion of the market.
Furthermore, the 1990's saw aggressive technological development in the
worldwide cold chain instrumentation and services marked for products both
directly and indirectly competitive with our traditional product lines. In
addition to electronic data loggers, which were now being manufactured and
marketed by large international companies like Sanyo, Dallas Semiconductor and
Testo, worldwide competitors also developed new technologies and devices to
service cold chain customers in a variety of industry and geographic sectors.
For example, ThermoKing, Carrier, StarTrak, Envirotainer, Cadec and others begin
marketing "smart" reefer and container technologies designed to both monitor and
help control environmental conditions, like temperature. Mobile Asset Tracking
has also emerged as an important competitive industry, with companies like
Qualcomm and Savi offering services designed to combine location tracking of
mobile assets with environmental monitoring. Most recently, radio frequency
identification (RFID) vendors like Alien Technologies and KSW Microtec have
developed products designed to trace products at the pallet, case and unit
levels, with temperature and environmental monitoring being offered as
value-added features. And, companies that specialize in chemical and
polymer-based indicators, like 3M, Lifelines, Avery and Bioett, continue to
compete aggressively for market share and the unit and package level. Many of
these new products require as much or more investment in software than the
hardware itself, or specialized skill in chemical applications, causing a tidal
shift in the kinds of competencies companies like ours needed to remain
competitive in what was once a traditional hardware business. Consequently, a
market that had grown up around the shipment of produce in the United States has
now become a worldwide market for food of all sorts, chemicals, life science
products, cosmetics, and a host of other temperature-sensitive products,
requiring substantial investment in product development, marketing and
international distribution to remain competitive. In light of this rapid change
and explosive growth in the worldwide cold chain instrumentation and services
market, we have found it increasingly difficult to maintain a sustainable share
of our traditional market, and expand into emerging worldwide markets.
19
On April 14, 2003 Sensitech sent a draft Letter of Intent to Cox Technologies,
with an offer of $7.4 million to purchase Cox technologies' product lines,
including the Vitsab product line, and to assume only those liabilities
associated with the purchased assets. Cox Technologies rejected Sensitech's $7.4
million offer as being too low. The company believed its value had increased due
to improved cost structure, growth in new business and improved cash position
resulting from the $750,000 investment by TI.
On June 3, 2003, Sensitech sent Cox a revised Letter of Intent increasing its
offer to $9.1 million, conditioned on the mutual exchange of certain financial
and performance information. Cox Technologies rejected this improved offer as
being inadequate, because the Board of Directors believed that the Company was
worth more than $9.1 million and was unwilling to entertain an offer in that
amount.
On September 8, 2003, Sensitech again increased its offer to approximately $9.9
million. On September 11, 2003, Cox Technologies responded that the Sensitech
offer was sufficient to commence negotiations. From September 11, 2003 through
October 19, 2003, the parties continued discussions. On October 19, 2003,
Sensitech increased its offer by approximately $600,000 in exchange for
confirmation of historic revenue performance and the prompt initiation of
financial due diligence.
From October 19, 2003 through December 12, 2003, Sensitech performed its due
diligence and the parties negotiated the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement.
As part of the negotiations, Sensitech advised us that it did not want to
purchase the assets associated with our Vitsab product line because it did not
believe those assets were consistent with Sensitech's core competency in, and
strategic focus on, electronics and data management and that purchase of the
Vitsab assets would have materially increased the post-closing costs of the
asset sale to Sensitech.
In the process of negotiating the Asset Purchase Agreement, we were able to
negotiate a reduction in the amount of the purchase price that would be
"held-back" from the $500,000 amount included in Sensitech's April 14 proposal
to $250,000. In order to achieve the $250,000 reduction, which would result in
an additional $250,000 to be delivered to Cox Technologies at the closing, and
because the remaining $250,000 deferred amount was relatively small in relation
to the costs associated with establishing an escrow account, we agreed to allow
the remaining $250,000 hold-back amount to be held by Sensitech.
On December 12, 2003, the Cox Technologies Board of Directors received the
fairness opinion from Ensemble Consulting LLC and met to consider the terms of
the Asset Purchase Agreement. After considering various risks and issues facing
the company going forward, as compared to the company's opportunities in the
future, the Board determined that the asset sale to Sensitech and subsequent
dissolution and liquidation would have the highest probability of returning the
greatest value to Cox Technologies shareholders. On December 12, 2003, the Cox
Technologies Board of Directors unanimously approved the Asset Purchase
Agreement and the asset sale on the terms set forth in the Asset Purchase
Agreement, and unanimously approved the Plan of Dissolution. On December 12,
2003 we entered into the Asset Purchase Agreement with Sensitech.
Neither before nor during discussions with Sensitech has any third party
indicated any interest in presenting an offer or competing offer to merge with
or acquire Cox Technologies. Management of Cox Technologies decided not to
approach other parties due to its assessment of a variety of risks, including
the dearth of other potential strategic acquirers of necessary size or financial
means, the expenses associated with "shopping" the company, the negative impact
on customer relationships and the risk that Sensitech would discontinue
negotiations. In addition, management believes Sensitech has strategic reasons
that would compel it to pay more than other prospective buyers. Sensitech has
advised us that, because of the many redundancies between Sensitech and Cox
Technologies, completing the asset sale represents, to Sensitech, a significant
increase in product volume and customer revenue with little additional
infrastructure or fixed manufacturing costs. Furthermore, because of its prior
acquisition experience, we believe that Sensitech's management team is equipped
to manage its post-acquisition company with only a very modest increase in
marketing, sales and management expense. While there may be other competitors
who would be capable of purchasing our assets, we believe that they would likely
need to retain more of our manufacturing and distribution infrastructure, in
order to continue operating the business associated with our assets
successfully. Because of the overlap between our business and Sensitech's
business, and Sensitech's acquisition experience, it is our opinion that the
proposed asset sale to Sensitech represents a very smooth acquisition from an
acquiror's and customer's perspective, and offers our shareholders the highest
available return.
20
On December 15, 2003 Cox Technologies disseminated a press release announcing
the Asset Purchase Agreement.
Cox Technologies' Reasons for the Asset Sale; Board Recommendation
In approving the proposed asset sale to Sensitech, and recommending that
shareholders approve the proposed asset sale, the Board of Directors considered
a number of factors before recommending that our shareholders approve the
proposed asset sale, including the following:
o That our debt balances and competitive position require that we receive a
significant cash infusion or sell the company;
o That we have explored other strategic alternatives and received no offers;
o That Ensemble Consulting LLC has rendered its opinion to the Board of
Directors that the consideration to be paid for the assets by Sensitech to
us is fair to our shareholders from a financial point of view;
o That we would be entitled to terminate the asset sale, with the payment of
a termination fee, and sell the assets to a third party in the event that
we receive an offer from a third party to purchase the assets at a price
higher than $10,532,000;
o That the value of our assets, particularly our intellectual property and
certain contracts and customer relationships, would decline with the
passage of time;
o That Sensitech would assume certain payables and all of our obligations
under customer contracts, including warranty and product liability claims;
o That the asset sale to Sensitech would result in an amount of cash
available for distribution to our shareholders in the liquidation in excess
of any other identified alternative.
o That as a result of the asset sale and subsequent dissolution and
liquidation, our shareholders would be foregoing any opportunity to share
in the future growth or increase in value of the Company; and
The foregoing includes the material factors considered by the Board of
Directors. In view of its many considerations, the Board of Directors did not
quantify or otherwise assign relative weight to the specific factors considered.
In addition, individual members of the Board of Directors may have given
different weights to different factors. After weighing all of these
considerations, the Board of Directors was unanimous in determining to approve
the asset sale and to recommend that our shareholders approve the proposed asset
sale to Sensitech.
Opinion of Ensemble Consulting LLC
The Board of Directors of Cox Technologies retained Ensemble Consulting LLC, to
act as financial advisor to the Board of Directors and to render to the Board of
Directors an opinion as to the fairness to the shareholders of Cox Technologies,
from a financial point of view, of the consideration to be received by Cox
Technologies in the asset sale. Ensemble Consulting is a consulting and
investment banking firm whose principals are regularly engaged in the provision
of fairness opinions and the valuation of businesses in connection with mergers,
acquisitions, asset and division sales and other purposes. The Board of
Directors selected Ensemble Consulting for its reputation and experience in
investment banking. Ensemble Consulting was previously retained by the Board of
Directors to provide advice and render its fairness opinion in relation to the
March 2003 investment by TI and for valuation assessment of certain outstanding
stock options in April 2003. The Company paid Ensemble Consulting $14,430 in
connection with services rendered in relation to the Fairness Opinion, $2,210 in
connection with services rendered in relation to the valuation of stock options
in April 2003, and $19,500 in connection with services rendered in relation to
the fairness opinion for the March 2003 investment by TI.
21
In connection with Ensemble Consulting's engagement, the Board of Directors
requested that it evaluate the fairness to the shareholders of the consideration
to be paid by the Buyer in the sale from a financial point of view. Ensemble
Consulting delivered to the Board of Directors on December 12, 2003 its Fairness
Opinion to the effect that, as of that date and based upon and subject to the
assumptions, factors and limitations set forth in the Fairness Opinion and
described below, the proposed consideration to be received by Cox Technologies
in the asset sale was fair, from a financial point of view, to the shareholders
of Cox Technologies. A copy of the Fairness Opinion is attached to this proxy
statement as Annex C and is incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement.
While Ensemble Consulting rendered its Fairness Opinion and provided certain
valuation analyses to the Board of Directors, Ensemble Consulting was not
requested to and did not make any recommendation to the Board of Directors as to
the specific amount of consideration to be received by Cox Technologies in the
asset sale, which was determined through negotiations between Cox Technologies
and Sensitech. The Fairness Opinion, which was directed to the Board of
Directors, addresses only the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the
consideration payable to Cox Technologies in the asset sale, does not address
the underlying business decision to proceed with the asset sale, or the relative
merits of the asset sale compared to any alternative business strategy or
transaction in which Cox Technologies might engage and does not constitute a
recommendation to any of the Cox Technologies shareholders as to how to vote on
the proposal relating to the asset sale.
The following discussion describes the procedures followed, assumptions made,
matters considered and limitations on review undertaken by Ensemble Consulting
in the performance of its services. The Fairness Opinion was provided for the
information of the Board of Directors in its evaluation of the sale and does not
constitute a recommendation by Ensemble Consulting to any of the Company
shareholders as to whether they should approve the sale. Ensemble Consulting's
opinion is directed to the Board of Directors and relates only to the fairness
of the sale. The engagement was limited to opining as to the fairness, from a
financial point of view, to the shareholders and does not address any other
aspect of the sale. Ensemble Consulting did not solicit other potential
purchasers of all or any part of the assets, advise the Board of Directors with
respect to alternatives to the sale or negotiate the terms of the sale.
Accordingly, the Fairness Opinion does not address the Company's underlying
business decision to effect the sale.
Scope of Analysis. In connection with the fairness opinion, Ensemble Consulting
made such reviews, analyses and inquiries, as it deemed necessary and
appropriate under the circumstances. In arriving at its opinion, Ensemble
Consulting's review included:
The Asset Purchase Agreement;
The Cox Technologies annual reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal years ended
April 30, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003;
The Cox Technologies quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
July 31, 2001, October 31, 2001, January 31, 2002, July 31, 2002, October
31, 2002, January 31, 2003 and July 31, 2003;
The Cox Technologies draft quarterly report dated December 11, 2003 for the
quarter ended October 31, 2003
The Cox Technologies' forecasted financial results for the four fiscal
years ended April 30, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007;
Other information from Cox Technologies including marketing pieces and
press releases;
Historical market prices and trading activity of the Cox Technologies
common stock;
Publicly available information on companies that are publicly traded and/or
have been acquired in a merger or acquisition transaction, which Ensemble
Consulting deemed comparable to Cox Technologies;
In addition, Ensemble Consulting visited the Cox Technologies headquarters and
conducted discussions with selected members of the Cox Technologies senior
management and Board to discuss the asset sale, the operations, financial
condition, future prospects and performance of Cox Technologies.
In conducting its investigation and analyses, and in arriving at its opinion
expressed herein, Ensemble Consulting took into account such accepted financial
and investment banking procedures and considerations as it has deemed relevant,
including the review of: (i) historical and projected revenues, operating
earnings, net income and capitalization of Cox Technologies and certain other
22
publicly held companies in businesses believed to be comparable to Cox
Technologies; (ii) the current and projected financial position and results of
operations of Cox Technologies; (iii) the historical market prices and trading
activity of the common stock of Cox Technologies; (iv) financial and operating
information concerning selected business combinations deemed comparable in whole
or in part; (v) the general condition of the securities markets; and (vi) such
other factors as were deemed appropriate.
Assumptions. In performing its analysis, Ensemble Consulting relied upon and
assumed, without independent verification, that the financial forecasts and
projections provided to it have been reasonably prepared and reflect the best
currently available estimates and judgments of the future financial results and
condition of the Company, and that there has been no material change in the
assets, financial condition, business or prospects of the Company since the date
of the most recent financial statements made available to it. Ensemble
Consulting did not independently verify the accuracy or completeness of the
information supplied to it with respect to the Company and did not make any
physical inspection or independent appraisal of any of the properties or assets
of the Company.
Valuation Methodology. For the purpose of its analysis, Ensemble Consulting
performed a valuation of the enterprise value of the Company. It considered the
following valuation methodologies:
The "market approach" arrives at an indication of value by comparing the entity
being appraised to comparable, publicly-traded companies. Market-based valuation
ratios or multiples are calculated from the comparable companies, are adjusted,
and applied to the subject entity. This approach assumes valuation parameters of
guideline transactions would influence the value of the subject entity. As a
part of Ensemble Consulting's analysis, Ensemble Consulting compared the Company
to publicly-traded companies that were considered comparable to Cox
Technologies. In the course of these comparisons, certain adjustments were made.
Specifically, adjustments were made to the valuation multiples ultimately
applied to Cox Technologies in the Guideline Public Company Comparison. In the
Guideline Public Company Comparison, Ensemble Consulting discounted the
indicated multiples by 45% and 55%. Ensemble Consulting discounted these
industry valuation multiples in its application of multiples to Cox Technologies
for relative differences in risk and growth including volatile margins, weak
financial condition, limited access to financial resources, relative growth and
margin improvement, size, and management depth.
The "income approach" measures value based on the expected net earnings or cash
flows of the subject entity. Generally, the present value of the income stream
to be generated for the benefit of the entity's owners over its remaining
economic life is determined. This approach assumes that the income derived from
the entity will, to a large extent, determine its value. As a part of its
analysis, Ensemble Consulting relied on projections for the Company provided by
management. Such projections led to cash flows which were valued via a
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. In the course of this analysis, a Weighted
Average Cost of Capital was developed. The Weighted Average Cost of Capital was
developed via determination of the Company's Cost of Equity and Cost of Debt.
The Cost of Equity was developed using a number of inputs. A Specific Equity
Risk Premium was added to the Company's Cost of Equity of 10.3%. This Specific
Equity Risk Premium comprised the specific components of quality of financial
projections and size of the Company, illiquidity and management depth.
Conclusions. In arriving at its fairness opinion, Ensemble Consulting did not
attribute any particular weight to any analysis or factor considered by it, but
rather made qualitative judgments as to the significance and relevance of each
analysis and factor. Accordingly, Ensemble Consulting believes that its analyses
must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its analyses,
without considering all analyses, would create an incomplete view of the process
underlying the fairness opinion. However, in general, Ensemble Consulting
concluded that the enterprise value of the Company ranges between $9,573,733 and
$11,298,733. The aggregate purchase price of $10,532,000 falls within this
range.
Based upon its analysis and the assumptions described more fully in the complete
fairness opinion included as Annex C, Ensemble Consulting delivered its opinion
to the Board of Directors to the effect that, as of December 12, 2003, the
consideration to be paid by the Buyer in connection with the sale are fair to
the shareholders of the Company from a financial point of view.
23
Sensitech's Reasons for the Asset Sale
In approving the asset sale, Sensitech and its Board of Directors identified
several reasons supporting the acquisition of the Cox Technologies assets. As
described above, adding the Cox Technologies assets to the existing Sensitech
business increases Sensitech's revenues, extends its product platform, and
allows Sensitech to operate a substantially larger business with a relatively
small increase in Sensitech's fixed operating costs. This attractive
cost/benefit analysis with regard to Cox Technologies' assets is further
enhanced by the tested capabilities of Sensitech's management to successfully
transition the Cox technologies assets into Sensitech's business. These factors
combined will allow Sensitech to maintain competitive pricing for its entire
product line. Sensitech believes this is particularly important in the markets
in which it competes (and which Cox Technologies has competed in), which are
facing increased and significant price competition. Furthermore, Sensitech
intends to use the increased revenues attributable to the Cox Technologies
assets, to fund aggressive research and development to maintain competitive
products and adopt new technologies. Also, Sensitech intends to use its expanded
product platform and revenues to increase its presence in international markets,
as well as to attract possible development and distribution partners with
companies in comparable markets abroad. And finally, Sensitech intends to
leverage its projected profitability and increased market presence to attract
investors and to be able to obtain new forms of capital to support its growth.
Regulatory Approvals
No United States Federal or state regulatory requirements must be complied with
or approvals obtained as a condition of the proposed asset sale other than the
federal securities laws.
Use of Proceeds from the Proposed Asset Sale
If the asset sale is completed, we anticipate that, of the net proceeds, we will
apply an estimated $588,600 to pay off bank debt, an estimated $3,674,800 to pay
off the TI note, an estimated $864,600-$1,247,400 to satisfy our remaining
liabilities and, subsequently, an estimated $5,843,200-$7,148,400 to liquidating
distributions to our shareholders.
Appraisal Rights
Our shareholders have no appraisal rights in connection with the sale of assets
to Sensitech.
Vote Required and Board Recommendation
The approval of the asset sale to Sensitech requires the affirmative vote of a
majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Members of the Board of
Directors and our executive officers who hold (or are deemed to hold) as of the
record date an aggregate of approximately 17,231,074 shares of our common stock
(approximately 45% of the outstanding shares of common stock as of the record
date) have indicated that they will vote in favor of the proposal.
The Board of Directors believes that the asset sale is in the best interests of
Cox Technologies and our shareholders and recommends a vote "FOR" this proposal.
It is intended that the shares represented by the enclosed form of proxy will be
voted in favor of this proposal unless otherwise specified in such proxy.
PROPOSAL NO. 2
TO APPROVE THE PLAN OF COMPLETE LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION
General
Our Board of Directors is proposing the plan of dissolution for approval by our
shareholders at the Special Meeting. Subject to shareholder approval of the
asset sale, the Board of Directors approved the plan of dissolution on December
12, 2003, and amended and re-approved the plan of dissolution on January 29,
2004. A copy of the plan of dissolution, as amended, is attached as Annex B to
this proxy statement. Certain material features of the plan are summarized
below. We encourage you to read the plan of dissolution in its entirety.
After approval of the plan of dissolution and subject to approval of Proposal 1,
our business and operations will be transferred to Sensitech pursuant to the
Asset Purchase Agreement, we will no longer have any significant assets or
contracts and, other than the transitional manufacturing services provided to
Sensitech for a period to end no later than June 1, 2004, our activities will be
limited to:
24
o filing Articles of Dissolution with the Secretary of State of the State of
North Carolina and thereafter remaining in existence as a non-operating
entity;
o selling any of our remaining assets;
o paying our remaining creditors;
o terminating any of our remaining commercial agreements, relationships or
outstanding obligations;
o collecting any outstanding amounts due to Cox Technologies;
o establishing a contingency reserve for payment of our expenses and
liabilities;
o completing tax filings;
o complying with the Securities and Exchange Commission reporting
requirements; and
o preparing to make distributions to our shareholders.
North Carolina law provides that, following the approval of the plan of
dissolution by the Cox Technologies shareholders, the Board of Directors may
take such actions as it deems necessary in furtherance of the dissolution of Cox
Technologies and the wind up of its operations and affairs. In addition, North
Carolina law allows the dissolution to be revoked within the 120 days after
filing of Articles of Dissolution with the North Carolina Secretary of State.
The dissolution plan grants the Board of Directors the right to revoke the
dissolution within such time period without seeking shareholder approval of such
revocation. Neither the North Carolina Business Corporation Act nor the plan of
dissolution limit the reasons for which the Board of Directors may revoke the
dissolution.
We currently estimate that, assuming that the sale of assets to Sensitech is
consummated, the amount ultimately distributed to our shareholders will be in
the range of $0.15 to $0.19 per share. The distribution to our shareholders may
be reduced by additional liabilities we may incur, the ultimate settlement
amounts of our liabilities and our failure to achieve significant value for our
non-cash assets. See "Factors to be Considered by Shareholders in Deciding
Whether to Approve the Plan."
During the liquidation of our assets, we may pay our officers, directors,
employees, and agents, or any of them, compensation for services rendered in
connection with the implementation of the plan of dissolution. See "Possible
Effects of the Approval of the Plan upon the Directors and Executive Officers."
The following resolution will be offered at the Special Meeting:
"RESOLVED, THAT THE PLAN OF COMPLETE LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION BE RATIFIED AND
APPROVED."
Background and Reasons for the Plan of Dissolution
The decision to dissolve our company and distribute any remaining cash to our
shareholders is driven by the form of the transaction by which Sensitech has
agreed to purchase Cox Technologies' business. An acquisition in the form of a
sale of assets would mean that we would need to wind up our company and
dissolve, and that shareholders would not receive any distributions until we
satisfied all liabilities and completed our dissolution. However, Sensitech
would only consider a purchase of Cox Technologies' assets because it did not
want to assume all of Cox Technologies' liabilities.
25
Following the closing under the Asset Purchase Agreement, we will have no
operating assets other than the transitional manufacturing services provided to
Sensitech for a period to end no later than June 1, 2004, and no other means to
generate revenue. A dissolution and distribution of remaining cash to our
shareholders is a means to allow our shareholders their pro rata portion, after
payment of all of our remaining liabilities, of the proceeds from the asset
sale.
Factors to be Considered by Shareholders in Deciding Whether to Approve the Plan
There are many factors that our shareholders should consider when deciding
whether to vote to approve the plan of dissolution. Such factors include those
risk factors set forth below.
We cannot assure you of the amount, if any, of any distribution to our
shareholders under the plan of dissolution.
Liquidation and dissolution may not create value to our shareholders or result
in any remaining capital for distribution to our shareholders. We cannot assure
you of the precise nature and amount of any distribution to our shareholders
pursuant to the plan of dissolution. Uncertainties as to the final purchase
price under the Asset Purchase Agreement and certain expenses make it difficult
to predict with certainty the distribution, if any, to our shareholders. The
actual amount of all distributions will also depend in part upon our ability to
convert our remaining non-cash assets not sold pursuant to the Asset Purchase
Agreement into cash and we cannot be certain of the final amount of our
liabilities.
Our shareholders could vote against the plan of dissolution.
If we do not obtain shareholder approval of the plan of dissolution, we would
have to continue our business operations from a very difficult position in light
of our announced intent to liquidate and dissolve. After the sale of assets and
completion of the transitional manufacturing services to Sensitech for a period
ending no later than June 1, 2004, we will have no assets with which to generate
revenue, and we would use the cash received from the Asset Purchase Agreement to
pay ongoing operating expenses instead of making a distribution to shareholders
pursuant to the plan of liquidation.
We will continue to incur liabilities and expenses that will reduce the amount
available for distribution to shareholders.
Liabilities and expenses from operations (such as operating costs, salaries,
directors' and officers' insurance, payroll and local taxes, legal and
accounting fees and miscellaneous office expenses) will continue to be incurred
as we seek to close the Asset Purchase Agreement and wind down operations. We
estimate that the expenses necessary to continue the administrative operations
after closing of the asset sale and until the time of distribution of proceeds
to shareholders will be in a range from $30,000 to $45,000 for each month the
Company's office remains open. These expenses will reduce the amount of assets
available for ultimate distribution to shareholders. If available cash and
amounts received on the sale of non-cash assets are not adequate to provide for
our obligations, liabilities, expenses and claims, we may not be able to
distribute meaningful cash, or any cash at all, to our shareholders.
Distribution of assets, if any, to our shareholders could be delayed.
Although our Board of Directors has not established a firm timetable for
distributions to our shareholders, the Board of Directors intends, subject to
contingencies inherent in winding down our business, to make such distributions
as promptly as practicable after the end of the manufacturing obligations to
Sensitech. Subject to closing the asset sale and to the shareholder approval of
the plan of dissolution, we anticipate that an initial distribution of
liquidation proceeds will be made to our shareholders in the second or third
calendar quarter of 2004. Thereafter, as we liquidate our remaining assets and
properties we will distribute liquidation proceeds, if any, to our shareholders
as the Board of Directors deems appropriate. We anticipate that the majority of
the remaining liquidation proceeds will be distributed before December 31, 2004.
However, we are currently unable to predict the precise timing of any
distribution pursuant to our wind down. The timing of any distribution will
depend on and could be delayed by, among other things, the timing of sales of
our non-cash assets and claim settlements with creditors. Additionally, a
creditor could seek an injunction against the making of distributions to our
shareholders on the ground that the amounts to be distributed were needed to
provide for the payment of our liabilities and expenses. Any action of this type
could delay or substantially diminish the amount available for distribution to
our shareholders.
26
If we fail to create an adequate contingency reserve for payment of our expenses
and liabilities, our shareholders could be held liable for payment to our
creditors of each such shareholder's pro rata share of amounts owed to creditors
in excess of the contingency reserve, up to the amount actually distributed to
such shareholder.
If our shareholders approve the plan of dissolution, we will file Articles of
Dissolution with the State of North Carolina dissolving Cox Technologies.
Pursuant to the North Carolina Business Corporation Act, we will continue to
exist after the dissolution becomes effective to allow us gradually to close our
business, to dispose of our property, to discharge our liabilities and to
distribute to our shareholders any remaining assets. Under the North Carolina
Business Corporation Act, in the event we fail to create an adequate contingency
reserve for payment of our expenses and liabilities during this period, each
shareholder could be held liable for a period of five years for payment to our
creditors of such shareholder's pro rata share of amounts owed to creditors in
excess of the contingency reserve, up to the amount actually distributed to such
shareholder.
However, the liability of any shareholder would be limited to the amounts
previously received by such shareholder from us in the dissolution. Accordingly,
in such event a shareholder could be required to return all distributions
previously made to such shareholder. In such event, a shareholder could receive
nothing from us under the plan of dissolution. Moreover, in the event a
shareholder has paid taxes on amounts previously received, a repayment of all or
a portion of such amount could result in a shareholder incurring a net tax cost
if the shareholder's repayment of an amount previously distributed does not
cause a commensurate reduction in taxes payable. There can be no assurance that
the contingency reserve established by us will be adequate to cover any expenses
and liabilities. See "Contingent Liabilities; Contingency Reserve; Liquidating
Trust."
Our stock transfer books will close on the date we file the Articles of
Dissolution with the North Carolina Secretary of State, after which it will not
be possible for shareholders to publicly trade our stock.
We intend to close our stock transfer books and discontinue recording transfers
of our common stock at the close of business on the date we file the Articles of
Dissolution with the North Carolina Secretary of State, referred to as the
"final record date." The articles of dissolution will be filed at such time as
the Board of Directors, in its absolute discretion deems necessary, appropriate
or desirable. It is anticipated that the final record date will be in the second
or third calendar quarter of 2004. We plan to provide notice to the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and issue a press release announcing the
final record date at lest ten days before the final record date.
After the final record date, certificates representing our common stock shall
not be assignable or transferable on our books except by will, intestate
succession or operation of law. The proportionate interests of all of our
shareholders shall be fixed on the basis of their respective stock holdings at
the close of business on the final record date, and, after the final record
date, any distributions made by us shall be made solely to the shareholders of
record at the close of business on the final record date, except as may be
necessary to reflect subsequent transfers recorded on our books as a result of
any assignments by will, intestate succession or operation of law.
We will continue to incur the expenses of complying with public company
reporting requirements.
We have an obligation to continue to comply with the applicable reporting
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, referred to as
the "Exchange Act," even though compliance with such reporting requirements is
economically burdensome. In order to curtail expenses, we intend to, after
filing our Articles of Dissolution, seek relief from the Securities and Exchange
Commission from the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act. We anticipate
that, if such relief were granted, we would continue to file current reports on
Form 8-K to disclose material events relating to our liquidation and dissolution
along with any other reports that the Securities and Exchange Commission might
require. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission may not grant any such
relief.
Possible Effects of the Approval of the Plan upon Directors and Executive
Officers
Following the filing of the Articles of Dissolution with the North Carolina
Secretary of State, we will continue to indemnify each of our current and former
directors and officers to the extent required under North Carolina law and our
Articles of Incorporation as in effect immediately prior to the filing of the
Articles of Dissolution. In addition, we intend to maintain our current
directors' and officers' insurance policy through the date of dissolution and to
obtain runoff coverage for an additional five years after filing the Articles of
Dissolution. We have received a quote for such coverage in the amount of
$212,000.
27
Our Board of Directors will take such steps as they deem necessary in order to
retain personnel required to complete the orderly dissolution, including
providing necessary and reasonable compensation for such services under such
circumstances. Under the plan of dissolution, the Board of Directors is
authorized to approve compensation to personnel retained to complete the
dissolution and liquidation. There are currently no agreements with any
individuals regarding services to be performed or compensation to be paid in
relation to the dissolution and liquidation. The Board of Directors has no plans
to provide incentives to such individuals or to compensate them at any rate
above current compensation level. Brian Fletcher and Kurt Reid will likely be
included in the personnel retained to complete the dissolution and liquidation.
Other than as set forth above and as described in "Proposal No. 1--To Approve
the Proposed Asset Sale--Interests of our Directors and Executive Officers," it
is not currently anticipated that our liquidation will result in any material
benefit to any of our officers or to directors who participated in the vote to
adopt the plan of dissolution.
Provisions of the Plan
Our liquidation and dissolution is conditioned upon completion of the asset sale
to Sensitech.
Subject to closing the asset sale to Sensitech, we will distribute pro rata to
our shareholders, in cash or in-kind, or sell or otherwise dispose of, all of
our property and assets. The liquidation is expected to commence as soon as
practicable after the asset sale, and to be concluded prior to the first
anniversary thereof, or such later date as required by North Carolina law, by a
final liquidating distribution to our shareholders. Any sales of our remaining
assets will be made in private or public transactions and on such terms as are
approved by the Board of Directors. With the exception of the asset sale to
Sensitech, it is not anticipated that any further votes of our shareholders will
be solicited with respect to the approval of the specific terms of any
particular sales of assets approved by the Board of Directors. See "Proposal No.
1--To Approve the Proposed Asset Sale--General."
The plan of dissolution provides that the Board of Directors will liquidate our
assets in accordance with any applicable provision of the North Carolina
Business Corporation Act. Without limiting the flexibility of the Board of
Directors, the Board of Directors may, at its option, instruct our officers to
follow the procedures set forth in the North Carolina Business Corporation Act
to:
o collect our assets;
o dispose of properties that will not be distributed in kind to our
shareholders;
o discharge or make provision for discharging our liabilities;
o distribute our remaining property among our shareholders according to their
interests;
o notify known claimants in writing of the dissolution;
o publish notice of our dissolution and request that person with claims
against us present them in accordance with the notice;
o take every other act necessary to wind up and liquidate or business and
affairs.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that a distribution or transfer of
any asset cannot be effected without the consent of a governmental authority, no
such distribution or transfer shall be effected without such consent. Our Board
of Directors will distribute to our shareholders the maximum amount permissible
under applicable law.
After the final record date, we will not issue any new stock certificates, other
than replacement certificates. Any person holding options, warrants or other
rights to purchase common stock must exercise such instruments or rights prior
to the final record date. See "Listing and Trading of the Common Stock" and
"Final Record Date" below.
28
Following approval of the plan of dissolution by our shareholders, and after
consummation of the asset sale and performance of the manufacturing obligations
to Sensitech, Articles of Dissolution will be filed with the State of North
Carolina dissolving Cox Technologies. Our dissolution will become effective, in
accordance with the North Carolina Business Corporation Act, upon proper filing
of the Articles of Dissolution with the Secretary of State or upon such later
date as may be specified in the Articles of Dissolution. Pursuant to the North
Carolina Business Corporation Act, our corporate existence will continue after
the dissolution, for the purpose of prosecuting and defending suits, whether
civil, criminal or administrative, by or against us, and enabling us gradually
to settle and close our business, to dispose of and convey our property, to
discharge our liabilities and to distribute to our shareholders any remaining
assets, but not for the purpose of continuing the business for which we were
organized.
Liquidating Distributions; Nature; Amount; Timing
Although the Board of Directors has not established a firm timetable for
distributions to shareholders if the plan of dissolution is approved by the
shareholders, the Board of Directors intends, subject to contingencies inherent
in winding up our business, to make such distributions as promptly as
practicable. We intend that any distributions to the shareholders will be in the
form of cash.
Subject to closing the asset sale and to the shareholder approval of the plan of
dissolution, we anticipate that an initial distribution of liquidation proceeds
will be made to our shareholders in the second or third calendar quarter of
2004. Thereafter, as we liquidate our remaining assets and properties we will
distribute liquidation proceeds, if any, to our shareholders as the Board of
Directors deems appropriate. We anticipate that the majority of the remaining
liquidation proceeds will be distributed before December 31, 2004.
As a condition to receipt of any distribution to the Company's shareholders, the
Board of Directors, in their absolute discretion, may require shareholders to
surrender their certificates evidencing the shares of the Company's common stock
or, in the case of lost, stolen or destroyed certificates, furnish the Company
with evidence satisfactory to the Board of Directors of the loss, theft or
destruction of certificates, together with surety bond or other security or
indemnity as may be required by the Board of Directors.
The proportionate interests of all of our shareholders shall be fixed on the
basis of their respective stock holdings at the close of business on the final
record date, and after such date, any distributions made by us shall be made
solely to shareholders of record on the close of business on the final record
date, except to reflect permitted transfers. The Board of Directors is, however,
currently unable to predict the precise nature, amount or timing of this
distribution or any other distributions pursuant to the plan of dissolution. The
actual nature, amount and timing of all distributions will be determined by the
Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, and will depend in part upon our
ability to convert our remaining assets into cash and pay and settle our
significant remaining liabilities and obligations. See "Factors to be Considered
by Shareholders in Deciding Whether to Approve the Plan."
In lieu of satisfying all of our liabilities and obligations prior to making
distributions to our shareholders, we may instead reserve assets deemed by
management and the Board of Directors to be adequate to provide for such
liabilities and obligations. See "Contingent Liabilities; Contingency Reserve."
Uncertainties as to the precise value of our non-cash assets and the ultimate
amount of our liabilities make it impracticable to predict the aggregate net
value ultimately distributable to shareholders. Claims, liabilities and expenses
from operations (including operating costs, salaries, income taxes, payroll and
local taxes, legal, accounting and miscellaneous office expenses), although
currently declining, will continue to be incurred following shareholder approval
of the asset sale and plan of dissolution. These expenses will reduce the amount
of assets available for ultimate distribution to shareholders, and, while a
precise estimate of those expenses cannot currently be made, management and the
Board of Directors believe that available cash and amounts received on the sale
of assets will be adequate to provide for our obligations, liabilities, expenses
and claims (including contingent liabilities) and to make cash distributions to
shareholders. However, no assurances can be given that available cash and
amounts received on the sale of assets will be adequate to provide for our
obligations, liabilities, expenses and claims and to make cash distributions to
shareholders. If such available cash and amounts received on the sale of assets
are not adequate to provide for our obligations, liabilities, expenses and
claims, distributions of cash and other assets to our shareholders will be
reduced and could be eliminated. See "Factors to be Considered by Shareholders
in Deciding Whether to Approve the Plan."
29
Following is a table showing management's estimate of cash proceeds and outlays
and of our ultimate distribution to shareholders as of the date of this proxy
statement. The following estimates are not guarantees and they do not reflect
the total range of possible outcomes. The table assumes that we complete the
asset sale to Sensitech by March 25, 2004. See "Factors to be Considered by
Shareholders in Deciding Whether to Approve the Plan" for a discussion of the
risk factors related to the plan of dissolution and any potential proceeds which
we may be able to distribute to shareholders.
Estimated Distribution to Shareholders
Low High
Range Range
----- -----
Asset Purchase Price $ 10,532,000 $ 10,532,000
Plus Purchase Price Adjustment (1) 500,000 750,000
Less Holdback From Initial Payment (2) (250,000) (250,000)
Less Adjustment for Customers (3) (200,000) --
------------ ------------
Estimated Cash Proceeds at Closing 10,582,000 11,032,000
Cash Reserves (4) 670,000 890,000
Receipt of Holdback Proceeds from Buyer (2) 50,000 250,000
Interest Income Earned on Investments (5) 35,000 75,000
Net Proceeds From Liquidation of Retained Assets (6) 17,000 30,000
------------ ------------
Estimated Gross Cash 11,354,000 12,277,000
------------ ------------
Retirement of RBC Centura Debt (7) 588,600 588,600
Retirement of TI Note (8) 3,674,800 3,674,800
Operating Expenses (9) 200,000 100,000
Income Taxes on Gain on Asset Sale 250,000 200,000
Professional Fees (attorneys, accountants, other) (10) 235,000 135,000
Directors and Officers Liability Insurance (11) 212,000 212,000
Employee Retention Cost (12) 120,000 96,000
In-the-money Stock Option Payments (13) 205,400 104,200
Proxy Solicitation (14) 25,000 18,000
------------ ------------
Estimated Payments and Expenses 5,510,800 5,128,600
------------ ------------
Estimated Cash to Distribute to Shareholders $ 5,843,200 $ 7,148,400
============ ============
Shares Outstanding as of December 31, 2003 38,331,825 38,331,825
Estimated Per Share Distribution $ 0.15 $ 0.19
============ ============
1. The purchase price adjustment is the amount by which the sum of the
purchased receivables and purchased inventory less the amount of the assumed
accounts payable deviates from a targeted amount of $1,754,000. Both the low
range and high range amounts reflect our belief that the net assets in this
comparison will exceed the target amount.
2. As provided in the Asset Purchase Agreement the buyer will withhold $250,000
until 6 months after the closing date at which time that amount will be paid
to Cox Technologies subject to reduction as provided in the Asset Purchase
Agreement. The high and low range amounts for receipt of the holdback
payment reflect our belief that any claims for indemnification could fall
between zero and $200,000.
3. In the event that some of our current top 50 customers indicate they will
not transition all or a substantially all of their business with Cox
Technologies to Sensitech and the aggregate annual revenues from those
departing customers exceeds $1,700,000, our estimated cash proceeds at
closing would be reduced by such amount. The low range reflects the greatest
amount that we believe would be deducted as a result of this adjustment.
30
4. Cash reserves represents the balance of cash in the Company's bank accounts
generated from operations, including operations under the Manufacturing
Services Agreement, and from the sale of the Vitsab division. The low and
high ranges reflect management's estimate based on the Company's current
cash level, the future payment obligations of the Company and the future
cash receipts of the Company.
5. Interest income earned on investments reflects the intention of the Company
to invest the proceeds received from Sensitech and the sale of the Vitsab
line until the funds are distributed to shareholders. The low and high range
amounts reflect the management's expectation of interest rates available on
secure short-term investments and the duration of time available for
investing.
6. The net proceeds from liquidation of retained assets reflect the sale of the
remaining assets of the Company after the Sensitech sales and sale of the
Vitsab line. The low and high ranges are management's estimate of the
potential net realizable proceeds the Company could receive from the sale of
business personal property, office equipment and manufacturing machinery and
equipment.
7. The principal under our loan facility with RBC as of January 31, 2004 was
$630,566. Both the high and low range assumes RBC is repaid by March 31,
2004.
8. The principal and accrued interest under the TI note as of January 31, 2004
was $3,624,338. Both the high and low range assumes TI is repaid on March
26, 2004 in the amount of $3,674,796.
9. Operating expenses constitute fixed and semi-variable costs that continue
for some period of time after the sale of assets to Sensitech and up until
the time of final distribution. These costs include supplies, utilities,
rent, payroll and associated taxes and fringe benefits, janitorial service,
bank fees, etc. The low and high ranges reflect management's estimate of the
levels to which these costs can be controlled.
10. Professional fees include costs incurred for attorney fees and independent
accountants costs for services rendered in connections with the sale of
assets, additional SEC filing requirements, conduct of the special
shareholders meeting and dissolution of the Company. The high and low range
amounts reflect the potential costs that management believes are possible
for the level of effort needed to complete these transactions.
11. The Company intends to purchase a Directors and Officers Liability policy to
cover claims made against Cox Technologies or its officers and directors for
the five year period starting with the date of dissolution. Both the low and
high range reflect the premium cost quoted to the Company for the necessary
coverage.
12. Employee retention costs represent management's estimate of the bonus
payments to employees remaining until their jobs or duties are completed and
their positions are terminated. The low and high range consider that all
employees may not remain in the employment of the Company.
13. In-the-money stock option payments represent the estimated amount that will
be paid to employees holding options with an exercise price (or strike
price) below the anticipated distribution amount to be paid to shareholders.
The low range assumes the options payments are based on a $.19 per share
distribution to shareholders and the high range assumes the options payments
are based on a $.15 per share distribution to shareholders.
14. Proxy solicitation costs include the printing of proxy material,
distribution and return mail costs associated with gathering the
shareholders votes, and the fees charged by our transfer agent to administer
the process. The low range reflects the costs generally incurred in
conducting a regular meeting of shareholders and the high range reflects the
potential for additional cost that may be incurred if addition mailing of
information to shareholders are required.
Sales of our Assets
Subsequent to the asset sale to Sensitech, the plan of dissolution contemplates
the sale of all of our remaining assets. The plan of dissolution does not
specify the manner in which we may sell our remaining assets. Such sales could
take the form of individual sales of assets, sales of groups of assets organized
31
by business, type of asset or otherwise, a single sale of all or substantially
all of our remaining assets, or some other form of sale. The remaining assets
may be sold to one or more purchasers in one or more transactions over a period
of time. We will not sell any of the remaining assets to any of our "affiliates"
without first obtaining the approval of any such asset sale by our shareholders,
excluding the votes of any such affiliate and any other interested shareholder
as determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with all applicable laws
and regulations.
It is not anticipated that any further shareholder votes will be solicited with
respect to the approval of the specific terms of sales of our remaining assets
approved by the Board of Directors. We do not anticipate amending or
supplementing the proxy statement to reflect any such agreement or sale, unless
required by applicable law. The prices at which we will be able to sell our
various remaining assets depends largely on factors beyond our control,
including, without limitation, the condition of financial markets, the
availability of financing to prospective purchasers of the assets, United States
and foreign regulatory approvals, public market perceptions, and limitations on
transferability of certain assets. In addition, we may not obtain as high a
price for a particular asset as we might secure if we were not in liquidation.
See "Proposal No. 1--To Approve the Proposed Asset Sale--General" for a further
description of the proposed sale of substantially all of our assets to
Sensitech.
Conduct of Cox Technologies Following Adoption of the Plan
Following approval of the plan of dissolution by our shareholders, completion of
the asset sale and completion of our manufacturing obligations to Sensitech, our
activities will be limited to distributing our assets in accordance with the
plan, establishing a contingency reserve for payment of our expenses and
liabilities, including liabilities incurred but not paid or settled prior to
approval of the plan of dissolution, selling any of our remaining assets, and
terminating any of our remaining commercial agreements, relationships or
outstanding obligations and collecting any monies owed to us. Following the
approval of the plan of dissolution by our shareholders, we shall continue to
indemnify our officers, directors, employees and agents in accordance with our
Articles of Incorporation, including for actions taken in connection with the
plan and the winding up of our affairs. The Board of Directors may obtain and
maintain such insurance as may be necessary to cover our indemnification
obligations under the plan of dissolution. We have received a quote of $212,000
for such coverage.
Reporting Requirements
Whether or not the plan of dissolution is approved, we have an obligation to
continue to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of the Exchange
Act, even though compliance with such reporting requirements is economically
burdensome. If the plan of dissolution is approved, in order to curtail
expenses, we will, after filing our Articles of Dissolution, seek relief from
the Securities and Exchange Commission from the reporting requirements under the
Exchange Act. We anticipate that, if such relief is granted, we would continue
to file current reports on Form 8-K to disclose material events relating to our
liquidation and dissolution along with any other reports that the Securities and
Exchange Commission might require. However, the Securities and Exchange
Commission may not grant any such relief.
Contingent Liabilities; Contingency Reserve
Under the North Carolina Business Corporation Act, we are required, in
connection with our dissolution, to pay or provide for payment of all of our
liabilities and obligations. Following the approval of the plan of dissolution
by our shareholders, we will pay all expenses and fixed and other known
liabilities, or set aside as a contingency reserve, cash and other assets which
we believe to be adequate for payment thereof. We are currently unable to
estimate with precision the amount of any contingency reserve that may be
required, but any such amount (in addition to any cash contributed to a
liquidating trust, if one is utilized) will be deducted before the determination
of amounts available for distribution to shareholders.
The actual amount of the contingency reserve will be based upon estimates and
opinions of management and the Board of Directors and review of our estimated
operating expenses and future estimated liabilities, including, without
limitation, anticipated compensation payments, estimated legal and accounting
fees, operating lease expenses, payroll and other taxes payable, miscellaneous
office expenses, and expenses accrued in our financial statements. There can be
no assurance that the contingency reserve in fact will be sufficient. We have
not made any specific provision for an increase in the amount of the contingency
reserve. Subsequent to the establishment of the contingency reserve, we will
distribute to our shareholders any portions of the contingency reserve that we
deem no longer to be required. After the liabilities, expenses and obligations
for which the contingency reserve is established have been satisfied in full, we
will distribute to our shareholders any remaining portion of the contingency
reserve.
32
Under the North Carolina Business Corporation Act, in the event we fail to
create an adequate contingency reserve for payment of our expenses and
liabilities, or should such contingency reserve be exceeded by the amount
ultimately found payable in respect of expenses and liabilities, each
shareholder could be held liable for the repayment to creditors out of the
amounts theretofore received by such shareholder from us.
If we were held by a court to have failed to make adequate provision for our
expenses and liabilities or if the amount ultimately required to be paid in
respect of such liabilities exceeded the amount available from the contingency
reserve, a creditor of ours could seek an injunction against the making of
distributions under the plan of dissolution on the grounds that the amounts to
be distributed were needed to provide for the payment of our expenses and
liabilities. Any such action could delay or substantially diminish the cash
distributions to be made to shareholders and/or interest holders under the plan
of dissolution.
Final Record Date
We intend to close our stock transfer books and discontinue recording transfers
of shares of our common stock on the final record date, and thereafter
certificates representing shares of our common stock will not be assignable or
transferable on our books except by will, intestate succession or operation of
law. After the final record date, we will not issue any new stock certificates,
other than replacement certificates. It is anticipated that no further trading
of our shares will occur on or after the final record date. See "Trading of the
Common Stock" below.
All liquidating distributions from us on or after the final record date will be
made to shareholders according to their holdings of common stock as of the final
record date. Subsequent to the final record date, we may at our election require
shareholders to surrender certificates representing their shares of the common
stock in order to receive subsequent distributions. Shareholders should not
forward their stock certificates before receiving instructions to do so. If
surrender of stock certificates should be required, all distributions otherwise
payable by us, if any, to shareholders who have not surrendered their stock
certificates may be held in trust for such shareholders, without interest, until
the surrender of their certificates (subject to escheat pursuant to the laws
relating to unclaimed property). If a shareholder's certificate evidencing the
common stock has been lost, stolen or destroyed, the shareholder may be required
to furnish us with satisfactory evidence of the loss, theft or destruction
thereof, together with a surety bond or other indemnity, as a condition to the
receipt of any distribution.
Trading of the Common Stock
We currently intend to close our stock transfer books on the final record date
and to cease recording stock transfers and issuing stock certificates (other
than replacement certificates) at such time. Accordingly, it is expected that
trading in the shares will cease on and after the final record date. Thereafter,
our shareholders will not be able to transfer their shares.
Absence of Appraisal Rights
Under the North Carolina Business Corporation Act, our shareholders are not
entitled to appraisal rights for their shares of common stock in connection with
the transactions contemplated by the plan of dissolution.
Regulatory Approvals
No United States Federal or state regulatory requirements must be complied with
or approvals obtained in connection with the liquidation other than federal
securities laws and the North Carolina Business Corporation Act.
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following discussion is a general summary of the material United States
Federal income tax consequences affecting our shareholders that are anticipated
to result from the receipt of distributions pursuant to our dissolution and
liquidation. This discussion does not purport to be a complete analysis of all
33
the potential tax effects. Moreover, the discussion does not address the tax
consequences that may be relevant to particular categories of our shareholders
subject to special treatment under certain Federal income tax laws (such as
dealers in securities, banks, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations,
mutual funds, foreign individuals and entities, and persons who acquired their
Cox Technologies stock upon exercise of stock options or in other compensatory
transactions). It also does not address any tax consequences arising under the
laws of any state, local or foreign jurisdiction. The discussion is based upon
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, final and temporary Treasury
Regulations, Internal Revenue Service rulings, and judicial decisions now in
effect, all of which are subject to change at any time; any such changes may be
applied retroactively. Distributions pursuant to the plan of dissolution may
occur at various times and in more than one tax year. No assurance can be given
that the tax treatment described herein will remain unchanged at the time of
such distributions. The following discussion has no binding effect on the
Internal Revenue Service or the courts and assumes that we will liquidate in
accordance with the plan of dissolution in all material respects.
No ruling has been requested from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to
the anticipated tax consequences of the plan of dissolution, and we will not
seek an opinion of counsel with respect to the anticipated tax consequences. If
any of the anticipated tax consequences described herein prove to be incorrect,
the result could be increased taxation at the corporate and/or shareholder
level, thus reducing the benefit to our shareholders and us from the
liquidation. Tax considerations applicable to particular shareholders may vary
with and be contingent on the shareholder's individual circumstances. In
particular, the discussion below does not apply to a shareholder who also
happens to own or possess a beneficial interest in any shares of Sensitech or
any of its affiliates.
Federal Income Taxation of Cox Technologies. After the approval of the plan of
dissolution and until the liquidation is completed, we will continue to be
subject to Federal income taxation on our taxable income, if any, such as
interest income, gain from the sale of our assets or income from operations. We
will recognize gain or loss with respect to the sale of our assets in an amount
equal to the fair market value of the consideration received for each asset over
our adjusted tax basis in the asset sold. In addition, although we currently do
not intend to make distributions of property other than cash, in the event of a
distribution of property, we may recognize gain upon such distribution of
property. We will be treated as if we had sold any such distributed property to
the distributee-shareholder for its fair market value on the date of the
distribution. Management believes that we have sufficient usable net operating
losses to offset substantially all of any federal income or gain recognized by
us for federal income tax purposes.
Federal Income Taxation of our Shareholders. Amounts received by shareholders
pursuant to the plan of dissolution will be treated as full payment in exchange
for their shares of our common stock. Shareholders will recognize gain or loss
equal to the difference between (1) the sum of the amount of cash distributed to
them and the fair market value (at the time of distribution) of property, if
any, distributed to them, and (2) their tax basis for their shares of our common
stock. A shareholder's tax basis in his, her or its shares will depend upon
various factors, including the shareholder's cost and the amount and nature of
any distributions received with respect thereto.
A shareholder's gain or loss will be computed on a "per share" basis. If we make
more than one liquidating distribution, each liquidating distribution will be
allocated proportionately to each share of stock owned by a shareholder. The
value of each liquidating distribution will be applied against and reduce a
shareholder's tax basis in his or her shares of stock. Gain will be recognized
as a result of a liquidating distribution to the extent that the aggregate value
of the distribution and prior liquidating distributions received by a
shareholder with respect to a share exceeds his, her or its tax basis for that
share. Any loss will generally be recognized only when the final distribution
from us has been received and then only if the aggregate value of all
liquidating distributions with respect to a share is less than the shareholder's
tax basis for that share. Gain or loss recognized by a shareholder will be
capital gain or loss provided the shares are held as capital assets, and will be
long term capital gain or loss if the stock has been held for more than one
year.
Although we currently do not intend to make distributions of property other than
cash, in the event of a distribution of property, the shareholder's tax basis in
such property immediately after the distribution will be the fair market value
of such property at the time of distribution. The gain or loss realized upon the
shareholder's future sale of that property will be measured by the difference
between the shareholder's tax basis in the property at the time of such sale and
the proceeds of such sale.
After the close of its taxable year, we will provide shareholders and the
Internal Revenue Service with a statement of the amount of cash distributed to
our shareholders and our best estimate as to the value of any property
distributed to them during that year. There is no assurance that the Internal
Revenue Service will not challenge our valuation of any property. As a result of
such a challenge, the amount of gain or loss recognized by shareholders might be
changed. Distributions of property other than cash to shareholders could result
in tax liability to any given shareholder exceeding the amount of cash received,
requiring the shareholder to meet the tax obligations from other sources or by
selling all or a portion of the assets received.
34
If a shareholder is required to satisfy any liability of ours not fully covered
by our contingency reserve (see "Contingent Liabilities; Contingency Reserve"),
payments by shareholders in satisfaction of such liabilities would generally
produce a capital loss, which, in the hands of individual shareholders, could
not be carried back to prior years to offset capital gains realized from
liquidating distributions in those years.
The tax consequences of the plan of dissolution may vary depending upon the
particular circumstances of the shareholder. We recommend that each shareholder
consult his, her or its own tax advisor regarding the Federal income tax
consequences of the plan of dissolution as well as the state, local and foreign
tax consequences.
Effect of Liquidation
The methods used by the Board of Directors and management in estimating the
values of our assets are inexact and may not approximate values actually
realized. The Board of Directors' assessment assumes that estimates of our
liabilities and operating costs are accurate, but those estimates are subject to
numerous uncertainties beyond our control and also do not reflect any contingent
or unmatured liabilities that may materialize or mature. For all these reasons,
actual net proceeds distributed to shareholders in liquidation may be
significantly less than the estimated amount discussed in this proxy statement.
Moreover, no assurance can be given that any amounts to be received by our
shareholders in liquidation will equal or exceed the price or prices at which
our common stock has recently traded or may trade in the future.
Vote Required and Board Recommendation
The approval of the plan of dissolution requires the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Members of
the Board of Directors and our executive officers who hold (or are deemed to
hold) as of the record date an aggregate of approximately 17,231,074 shares of
our common stock (approximately 45% of the outstanding shares of common stock as
of the record date) have indicated that they will vote in favor of the proposal.
The Board of Directors believes that the plan of dissolution is in the best
interests of our shareholders and recommends a vote "FOR" this proposal. It is
intended that the shares represented by the enclosed form of proxy will be voted
in favor of this proposal unless otherwise specified in such proxy.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Set forth below is the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company
owned by certain beneficial owners, the directors, the Chief Executive Officer,
the other executive officers, and the directors and executive officers as a
group, on January 30, 2004. There were 38,331,825 common shares outstanding as
of January 30, 2004.
Percent
of
Name Shares (1) Class
- ---- ---------- -----
Dr. James L. Cox ...................... 8,182,108 (2) 19.4%
Brian D. Fletcher ..................... 17,277,454 (3) 43.2%
Kurt C. Reid .......................... 17,274,454 (4) 43.2%
James R. McCue ........................ 81,000 (5) *
David K. Caskey ....................... 126,311 (6) *
Technology Investors, LLC ............. 15,399,471 (7) 37.3%
Directors and executive officers
as a group (5 persons) .............. 27,541,856 (8) 56.6%
- ----------------
35
* Indicates beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the shares of Common
Stock of the Company outstanding on January 30, 2004.
(1) Includes shares, if any, held by each person's spouse.
(2) Dr. Cox owns 3,280,279 shares directly, 1,005,829 shares are owned by a
trust over which Dr. Cox has investment and voting power, and 12,000 shares
held by parent. Includes a warrant to purchase 2,500,000 shares. Includes
options to purchase 1,384,000 shares exercisable within 60 days of January
30, 2004.
(3) Mr. Fletcher owns 217,983 shares directly. Includes options to purchase
1,660,000 shares exercisable within 60 days of January 30, 2004. Includes
2,899,471 shares beneficially owned through TI and that are issuable upon
the conversion of a convertible promissory note at the option of TI.
Includes 12,500,000 shares beneficially owned through TI that were issued
to TI on March 19, 2003.
(4) Mr. Reid owns 214,983 shares directly. Includes options to purchase
1,660,000 shares exercisable within 60 days of January 30, 2004. Includes
2,899,471 shares beneficially owned through TI and that are issuable upon
the conversion of a convertible promissory note at the option of TI.
Includes 12,500,000 shares beneficially owned through TI that were issued
to TI on March 19, 2003.
(5) Mr. McCue owns 11,000 restricted shares directly. Includes options to
purchase 70,000 shares exercisable within 60 days of January 30, 2004.
(6) Mr. Caskey owns 10,311 shares directly. Includes options to purchase
116,000 shares exercisable within 60 days of January 30, 2004.
(7) The address for TI is 191 Bridgeport Drive, Moorseville, North Carolina.
Includes 2,899,471 shares owned by TI that are issuable upon the conversion
of a convertible promissory note at the option of TI.
(8) Includes a convertible promissory note, warrants and options to purchase,
in the aggregate, 10,289,471 shares exercisable within 60 days of January
30, 2004.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors does not know of any other matters that may come before
the Special Meeting. However, if any other matters are properly presented at the
Special Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying
proxy to vote, or otherwise act, in accordance with their judgment on such
matters.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, and we file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.
You may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC's Public
Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call
the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room.
Our public filings are also available to the public from commercial document
retrieval services and at the Internet web site maintained by the SEC at
http://www.sec.gov. If you have any questions about the Special Meeting or the
proposals to be voted on at the Special Meeting, or if you need additional
copies of this proxy statement or copies of any of our public filings referred
to in this proxy statement, you should contact Kurt Reid at (704) 825-8146 ext.
239.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Dr. James L. Cox
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Technology Officer
36
COX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR SPECIAL MEETING ON FEBRUARY , 2004
The undersigned shareholder of Cox Technologies, Inc. (the "COMPANY")
acknowledges receipt of Notice of the Special Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy
Statement, each dated February , 2004, and the undersigned revokes all prior
proxies and appoints JAMES L. COX and JOHN R. STEWART, or each of them, as
proxies for the undersigned, each with the power of substitution or
resubstitution, to vote all shares of common stock of the Company that the
undersigned would be entitled to vote at the Special Meeting of Shareholders to
be held at the Holiday Inn Airport, 2707 Little Rock Road, Charlotte, North
Carolina at 9:00 a.m., local time, on March , 2004, and any postponement or
adjournment thereof, and instructs said proxies to vote as follows:
1. To approve the proposed sale of substantially all of our assets to
Sensitech, Inc.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. To ratify and approve the Plan of Complete Liquidation and Dissolution
of Cox Technologies, Inc.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
3. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the meeting.
Please sign on reverse side
37
(continued from other side)
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS MADE. IF NO
SPECIFICATIONS ARE MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE PROPOSALS. ON ANY
OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE SPECIAL MEETING, THIS PROXY WILL
BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BEST JUDGMENT OF THE PROXIES. THIS PROXY MAY BE
REVOKED AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ITS EXERCISE.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY, USING THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.
Dated this __ day of ___________, 2004
--------------------------------------------
(Signature of Shareholder)
--------------------------------------------
(Signature of Shareholder)
Please sign exactly as your name or names appears on your
stock certificate. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title
as such. If shares are held jointly, EACH holder must sign.
38
Annex A
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
AMONG
SENSITECH INC.
COX ACQUISITION CORP.
AND
COX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
December 12, 2003
As Amended Janury 29, 2004
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Agreement is entered into as of December 12, 2003 and amended
January 29, 2004, by and among Sensitech Inc. a Delaware corporation (the
"Parent"), Cox Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned
subsidiary of the Parent (the "Buyer") and Cox Technologies, Inc., a North
Carolina corporation (the "Seller"). The Parent, the Buyer and the Seller are
referred to collectively herein as the "Parties."
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Seller is engaged in the business of developing and
manufacturing equipment for monitoring, recording and managing the temperature
of goods in the supply chain (such business, other than the portion of such
business relating to Vitsab, the "Business"); and
WHEREAS, the Seller desires to sell, transfer and assign to the Buyer,
and the Buyer desires to purchase and acquire from the Seller, substantially all
of the assets of the Seller in return for cash and the assumption of certain
specified liabilities.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
promises herein made, and in consideration of the representations, warranties,
and covenants herein contained, the Parties, intending to become legally bound,
agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Agreement, the following words and phrases,
when used herein, shall have the meanings specified or referred to below:
"Acquired Assets" means all of the Seller's right, title, and interest
in and to all of the properties, assets, rights, privileges and business of the
Seller, tangible and intangible, associated with the Purchased Products and
related services, as they exist at the Effective Time, including all of
Seller's:
(a) Purchased Receivables and all records related thereto, as well as
all other accounts, notes, trade and receivables, and any Cash received by
the Seller after the Effective Time with respect to or on account of an
Acquired Asset;
(b) Purchased Inventory;
(c) Office and other equipment which is on the Essential Equipment
List;
(d) Customer lists and records; customer contracts; agreements or
arrangements related to distribution, resale, depot, sales and sales
agents; books, ledgers, files, documents, and correspondence; plats;
drawings and specifications; creative materials, advertising and
promotional materials; studies, reports, and other printed or written
materials in printed or electronic format, including (to the extent
permitted by applicable law) all personnel records of Transferred
Employees;
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(e) Claims, deposits, prepayments (including prepaid expenses),
refunds, causes of action, chooses in action, rights of recovery, rights of
set off, and rights of recoupment (excluding any such item relating to the
payment of Taxes) relating to the Acquired Assets;
(f) Intellectual Property, all goodwill associated therewith, licenses
and sublicenses granted and obtained with respect thereto, and rights
thereunder, remedies against infringements thereof, and rights to
protection of interests therein under the laws of all jurisdictions;
(g) Franchises, approvals, permits, licenses, orders, registrations,
certificates, variances, and similar rights obtained from governments and
governmental agencies;
(h) All guarantees, warranties, indemnities and similar rights in
favor of Seller with respect to the Acquired Assets;
(i) All stock or other beneficial or ownership interests in any
Subsidiary of the Seller, including without limitation any joint venture or
distributorship which is a Subsidiary, but excluding any Subsidiary which
the Buyer elects not to purchase pursuant to this Agreement;
(j) Insurance proceeds and the benefits of any insurance policies
relating to Product Claims described in paragraph (b) of the definition of
Assumed Liabilities;
(k) Leasehold interests in personal property if the lease is expressly
assumed by the Buyer; and
(m) All goodwill associated with the Business in connection with the
Acquired Assets, together with the right to represent to third parties that
Parent and Buyer are the successors to the Business associated with the
Acquired Assets;
provided, however, that the Acquired Assets shall not include any of the
following:
(i) any right, title or interest in and to real property or any
leases thereto;
(ii) any Production Equipment, except Production Equipment which
is on the Essential Equipment List;
(iii) qualifications to conduct business as a foreign
corporation, arrangements with registered agents relating to foreign
qualifications, taxpayer and other identification numbers, seals,
corporate minute books, and other documents relating to the
organization, maintenance, and existence of the Seller;
(iv) any Cash (other than Cash received by the Seller after the
Effective Time with respect to or on account of an Acquired Asset);
(v) any right, title, interest in or to those certain oil field
operation, production or sublease properties now or previously owned
by Seller;
(vi) any right, title or interest in and to an Employee Benefit
Plan and any liabilities associated thereto;
(vii) any right, title or interest in and to any asset associated
with Vitsab(R), except as set forth in the Vitsab Agreement;
(viii) any of the rights of the Seller under this Agreement (or
under any other agreement between the Seller on the one hand and the
Parent or the Buyer on the other hand entered into on or after the
date of this Agreement); or
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(ix) any office equipment, machines, tools, fixtures,
furniture and computers, except such items as are on the Essential
Equipment List.
"Actual Sum" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.06 below.
"Actual Value" and "Actual Values" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.06 below.
"Adverse Consequences" means all actions, suits, proceedings, hearings,
investigations, charges, complaints, claims, demands, injunctions, judgments,
orders, decrees, rulings, damages, dues, penalties, fines, costs, amounts paid
in settlement, liabilities, obligations, Taxes, liens, losses, expenses, and
fees, including court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses.
"Aggregate Annual Revenues" means, as to any customer which is a Top 50
Customer, the aggregate worldwide revenues, determined in accordance with GAAP,
to the Seller (including any Subsidiary of the Seller) from such customer during
the 12 months ended October 31, 2003.
"Agreement" means this agreement among the Parties, as the same may be
amended from time to time.
"Alternate Transaction" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09
below.
"Assumed Liabilities" means:
(a) The Purchased Payables as of the Effective Time; and
(b) All documented obligations under customer contracts relating to
the sale of Purchased Products or under any other contract, the rights to
which are an Acquired Asset, including without limitation any warranty or
product liability claims and documented commitments for fees, rebates,
refunds, concessions, allowances, service commitments and other expenses or
payments associated with the Purchased Products shipped or committed to be
shipped prior to the Effective Time, which to the extent there is Seller's
Knowledge shall be identified in reasonable detail on the Disclosure
Schedule, such claims and commitments to be hereinafter referred to as
"Product Claims;" provided, however, that Assumed Liabilities shall not
include any Product Claims of which there is Seller's Knowledge but which
are not disclosed on the Disclosure Schedule;
provided, further, that the Assumed Liabilities shall not include any of
the following (collectively, the "Excluded Liabilities"):
(i) any liability of the Seller under this Agreement, any Related
Agreements, or the Non-Disclosure Agreement (or under any other
agreement between the Seller on the one hand and the Parent or the
Buyer on the other hand) entered into on or after the date of this
Agreement;
(ii) any liability (including without limitation liabilities for
Taxes) shown, or required by GAAP to be shown, as a liability on the
Form 10-Q Balance Sheet, other than those listed in (a) and (b) above;
(iii) any liability for principal, interest or penalties on any
debt, equipment or similar financing;
(iv) any liability on any lease of real or personal property,
license agreement or other agreement which is not expressly assumed by
the Buyer;
(v) any liability arising under laws or regulations which is not
expressly assumed by the Buyer;
A-3
(vi) any liability which arises from any violation or alleged
violation of laws or regulations of any governmental authority,
including without limitation employment laws, Environmental and Safety
Requirements, pension or welfare benefit laws, export laws and
business practices regulations;
(vii) any liability to employees, for wages, accrued vacation or
other benefits or pursuant to any employment, retirement, termination
or similar agreement, whether or not such liability is shown as an
accrued expense on the consolidated balance sheet of the Seller;
(viii) any liability related to Vitsab or the present or former
oil field and lease portions of the business of the Seller;
(ix) any liability to any director, officer, shareholder, or
holder of options, warrants, or other equity interest, of the Seller;
(x) any liabilities related to professional services, including
without limitation those to financial, legal, audit or tax advisers;
(xi) any liabilities to the National Institutes of Health; and
(xii) any other obligation of the Seller not described in (a) or
(b) of this definition.
"Assumption Agreement" means that certain Assignment and Assumption
Agreement, by and between the Seller and the Parent, dated as of the Closing
Date, attached hereto as Exhibit A.
"Bill of Sale" means that certain Bill of Sale, by and between the
Seller, the Parent and the Buyer, dated as of the Closing Date, attached hereto
as Exhibit B.
"Board" means a party's board of directors.
"Break-Up Fee" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09 below.
"Business" has the meaning set forth in the second paragraph of this
Agreement.
"Buyer" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.
"Cash" means cash and cash equivalents (including marketable securities
and short term investments) calculated in accordance with GAAP applied on a
basis consistent with the preparation of the Financial Statements.
"Caskey Employment Agreement" means that certain proposed Employment
Agreement by and between the Parent and David K. Caskey, dated as of the Closing
Date, attached hereto as Exhibit C.
"CERCLA" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.
"Claim Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02 below.
"Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04 below.
"Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04 below.
"Closing Date Estimated Sum Schedule" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.06(a).
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"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Cox Consulting Agreement" means that certain Consulting Agreement by
and between the Parent and Dr. James L. Cox, dated as of the Closing Date,
attached hereto as Exhibit D.
"Disclosure Schedule" has the meaning set forth in Article III below.
"Dispute Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02 below.
"Effective Time" means 12:01 a.m.., Eastern Standard Time, on the
Closing Date.
"Employee Benefits" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.16(b)
below.
"Environmental Affiliates" of any Person means, with respect to any
particular matter, all other Persons whose liabilities or obligations with
respect to that particular matter have been assumed by, or are otherwise deemed
by law to be those of, such first Person.
"Environmental and Safety Requirements" means all federal, state, local
and foreign statutes, regulations, ordinances and similar provisions having the
force or effect of law, all judicial and administrative orders and
determinations, all contractual obligations and all common law concerning public
health and safety, worker health and safety and pollution or protection of the
environment, including all such standards of conduct and bases of obligations
relating to the presence, use, production, generation, handling, transport,
treatment, storage, disposal, distribution, labeling, testing, processing,
discharge, release, threatened release, control, or cleanup of any hazardous
materials, substances or wastes, chemical substances or mixtures, pesticides,
pollutants, contaminants, toxic chemicals, petroleum products or by-products,
asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (or PCBs), noise or radiation.
"Environmental Claim" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.08.
"Environmental Lien" means any Lien, whether recorded or unrecorded, in
favor of any governmental entity or any department, agency or political
subdivision thereof relating to any liability of the Company or any Seller or
any Environmental Affiliate of the Company or any Seller arising under any
Environmental and Safety Requirement.
"Essential Equipment List" means the list compiled by the Parent and
delivered to the Seller no less than five (5) days prior to the Closing Date, of
those items of production, office and other equipment which are necessary, in
the reasonable judgment of the Parent, to be sold to the Buyer to permit
transfer and full enjoyment by the Parent or the Buyer of the other assets being
purchased pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the Buyer shall
permit the Seller to use without charge, for the duration of the Seller's
performance under the Manufacturing Agreement, any items of equipment on the
Essential Equipment List which are necessary for the Seller to perform its
obligations under the Manufacturing Agreement.
"Estimated Sum" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.06 below.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Excluded Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in the definition of
Assumed Liabilities.
"Financial Statements" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07 below.
"Fletcher Consulting Agreement" means that certain Consulting
Agreement by and between the Parent and Brian D. Fletcher, dated as of the
Closing Date, attached hereto as Exhibit E.
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"Form 10-K" means that certain Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed by the
Seller with the SEC on July 28, 2003, for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2003.
"Form 10-Q" means that certain Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed by
the Seller with the SEC on September 11, 2003, for the fiscal quarter ended July
31, 2003.
"Form 10-Q Balance Sheet" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from
time to time.
"Indemnified Party" and "Indemnified Parties" have the meaning set
forth in Section 7.02 below.
"Indemnifying Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02 below.
"Indemnity Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02 below
"Indemnity Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02 below.
"Indemnity Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01 below.
"Independent Accountant" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07
below.
"Insurance Policy" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19 below.
"Intellectual Property" means, with respect to the Purchased Products,
(a) All inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or
not reduced to practice), all improvements thereto, and all patents, patent
applications, and patent disclosures, together with all reissuances,
continuations, continuations-in-part, revisions, extensions, and
reexaminations thereof;
(b) All trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names,
together with all translations, adaptations, derivations, and combinations
thereof and including all goodwill associated therewith, and all
applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith,
including without limitation those certain trademarks associated with the
Purchased Products, as defined below; provided, as to the corporate web
site of the Seller, the Seller will make appropriate modifications as
contemplated by Section 8.02 to direct visitors who are interested in the
Purchased Products to the web site of the Parent;
(c) All copyrightable works, all copyrights, and all applications,
registrations, and renewals in connection therewith;
(d) All mask works and all applications, registrations, and renewals
in connection therewith;
(e) All trade secrets and confidential business information (including
ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, compositions,
manufacturing and production processes and techniques, technical data,
designs, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing and
cost information, and business and marketing plans and proposals);
(f) All computer software (including data and related documentation);
(g) All other proprietary rights;
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(h) All rights of the Seller with respect to the Purchased Products
and arising under non-disclosure, confidentiality, non-competition or
similar agreements with employees, consultants and other third parties, or
pursuant to so-called shop rights or other common law rights, assigning the
information described in subparagraphs (a) through (g) or granting other
rights to the Seller with respect to the Purchased Products; and
(i) All copies and tangible embodiments thereof (in whatever form or
medium).
"Jens" means Jens Rask and his associated companies and business
entities, including without limitation Rask Holding ApS, Sandved International
ApS and Check-It Company.
"Lost Customer" means any Top 50 Customer which has, on or after this
Agreement has been publicly announced and on or prior to the Lost Customer
Measurement Date, indicated in writing or orally to an employee or independent
contractor of the Seller whose duties include sales, marketing or finance, or to
an officer or supervisory level employee of the Seller, that the Top 50 Customer
in question will not transition all or substantially all of its business with
the Seller to the Parent or the Buyer or words of similar effect. However, any
Top 50 Customer which prior to the Closing retracts its written or oral
indication that it will not transition its business to the Parent or the Buyer
will not be considered a Lost Customer.
"Lost Customer Measurement Date" means the date which is the earliest
of (a) six weeks following the mailing of the Proxy Statement to the
shareholders of the Seller, (b) the beginning of the period after the Required
Seller Shareholder Vote during which the Seller grants permission to the Parent
to the effect that the Parent may contact all of the Top 50 Customers, or (c)
the Closing Date.
"Manufacturing Agreement" means that certain Manufacturing Services
Agreement by and between the Seller, the Parent and the Buyer, dated as of the
Closing Date, attached hereto as Exhibit F.
"Material Adverse Effect" means an event, occurrence or change in
circumstances that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the business, financial condition, operations, results of
operations, or future prospects of the Seller, taken as a whole. The loss of
employees of the Seller after October 31, 2003 shall not be deemed to constitute
a Material Adverse Effect. The loss of customers of the Seller prior to November
1, 2003 shall not be deemed to constitute a Material Adverse Effect. The loss of
any or all customers other than Top 50 Customers on or after the date this
Agreement is publicly announced shall not be deemed to constitute a Material
Adverse Effect. The existence of Lost Customers on or after the date this
Agreement is publicly announced and prior to the Lost Customer Measurement Date
shall not constitute a Material Adverse Effect unless the Aggregate Annual
Revenues associated with the Lost Customers equals or exceeds $2,500,000.
"Most Recent Fiscal Year End" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06
below.
"Net Revenues" means the net revenues from operations relating to the
Acquired Assets, determined in accordance with GAAP, during the immediately
preceding four fiscal quarters of the Seller.
"Non-Disclosure Agreement" means the Confidentiality Agreement, dated
November 14, 2003, between the Parent and the Seller, attached hereto as Exhibit
G.
"Non-Purchased Receivables" has the meaning set forth in the definition
of Purchased Receivables.
"Non-Transferred Employees" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.16.
"Ordinary Course of Business" means the ordinary course of business
consistent with past custom and practice (including with respect to price,
quantity and frequency).
"Parent" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.
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"Party" or "Parties" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.
"Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, association, joint stock company, trust, estate, joint
venture, unincorporated organization, or governmental entity (or any department,
agency, or political subdivision thereof).
"Product Claims" has the meaning set forth in the definition of Assumed
Liabilities.
"Production Equipment" means any equipment, which Seller owns or has a
right, title or interest in, which is used to manufacture or process the
Purchased Products.
"Proxy Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03.
"Purchased Inventory" means inventories of finished goods, work in
process and raw materials, related to the Purchased Products.
"Purchased Payables" means, with the exception of Excluded Liabilities,
the accounts payable and accrued expenses related to the Purchased Products, as
shown in accordance with GAAP on the consolidated balance sheet of the Seller.
"Purchased Products" means the strip chart and datalogger temperature
recording and monitoring products of the Seller, whether or not used for
in-transit purposes and whether or not used in connection with food, including
without limitation the "Chart Reader," "Cox," "Cox1," "Cox3," "CoxBlue," "Cox
Digital Pulp Probe," "Cox MiniTemp FS," "Cox TempTester IR," "Cobra,"
"DataSource," "DS Pro," "IR-Temp," "IR Laser," "SmartProbe," "TempList,"
"ThermalPro," "Tracer," "Tracer Software," "RealTimeAlert" and "WP Probe"
products; provided, however, that Purchased Products shall not include the
Vitsab(R) product line.
"Purchased Receivables" means accounts receivable related to the
Purchased Products, other than (i) those accounts receivable, all or any portion
of which from the same customer is in excess of 75 days past due (or has not
been paid within 105 days from shipment date, if less than 75 days past due), or
(ii) those accounts receivable designated by the Buyer and reasonably agreed to
by the Seller, from a list of accounts receivable that are, in the opinion of
the Buyer following reasonable procedures and good faith written advice from
Ernst & Young LLP as of a date no earlier than October 31, 2003, a copy of which
written advice is shared with the Seller, otherwise doubtful of being collected
(the accounts receivable described in (i) and (ii), the "Non-Purchased
Receivables").
"Related Agreement" means any agreement, certificate or instrument
executed and delivered by a Party at the Closing or otherwise in connection with
the consummation of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement.
"Reid Consulting Agreement" means that certain Consulting Agreement by
and between the Parent and Kurt C. Reid, dated as of the Closing Date, attached
hereto as Exhibit H.
"Release" shall have the meaning set forth in CERCLA.
"Required Seller Shareholder Vote" has the meaning set forth in Section
5.03 below.
"Resolution Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02 below.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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"Security Interest" means any mortgage, pledge, lien, lis pendens,
charge, attachment, easement, covenant, restriction or other encumbrance of any
nature.
"Seller" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.
"Seller's Knowledge" means the actual knowledge that one or more of Dr.
James L. Cox, Kurt C. Reid, Brian D. Fletcher, John R. Stewart or David K.
Caskey has.
"Seller Shareholder Meeting" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03
below.
"Subsidiary" means any corporation, association, partnership, trust,
joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity with respect to which
a specified Person (or a Subsidiary thereof) owns or has the right to acquire
any of the capital stock or beneficial or ownership interests or has the power
to vote or direct the voting of sufficient securities to elect a majority of the
directors or managers.
"Target Sum" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.06 below.
"Tax" means any federal, state, local, or foreign income, gross
receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation,
premium, windfall profits, environmental (including taxes under Code ss.59A),
customs duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security
(or similar), unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales,
use, transfer, registration, value added, alternative or add-on minimum,
estimated, or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty,
or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.
"Tax Return" means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund,
or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or
attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.
"Technology Investors" means Technology Investors, LLC, a North
Carolina limited liability company.
"Third Party Claim" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02 below.
"Top 50 Customer" means each person or entity, including without
limitation distributors and other resellers, which purchased Purchased Products
or related services from the Seller (including any Subsidiary of the Seller)
during the 12 months ended October 31, 2003 and as to which the aggregate of
such purchases by the person or entity in question ranks no less than 50th on a
list of the largest aggregate purchases by all such persons or entities making
such purchases during the period in question. For these purposes, the parties
agree that Wal-Mart is not a Top 50 Customer.
"Transferred Employees" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.16.
"Transferred Employee Offer" means the form of Employment Offer,
attached as Exhibit I, to be offered by Parent to each of the Transferred
Employees as of the Effective Date.
"Vitsab" means any and all of the Vitsab(R) products and operations
owned by the Seller and following the Effective Time, any and all substantially
similar products, improvements, new versions and derivatives thereof, as well as
any processes, products, programs, works of authorship, or techniques, whether
or not patentable or registrable under copyright or trademark statutes, and any
other intellectual property rights related to any of the foregoing.
"Vitsab Agreement" means that certain Agreement by and between the
Seller, the Parent and the Buyer, dated as of the Closing, attached hereto as
Exhibit J.
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ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE
2.01 Purchase and Sale of Assets. On and subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, but effective as of the Effective
Time, the Buyer agrees to purchase from the Seller, and the Seller agrees to
sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to the Buyer, all of the Acquired
Assets, free and clear of all Security Interests, for the consideration
specified below in this Article II.
2.02 Assumption of Liabilities. On and subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, but effective as of the Effective
Time, the Buyer agrees to assume and become responsible for payment and/or
performance of all of the Assumed Liabilities. Neither the Buyer nor the Parent
will assume or have any responsibility whatsoever with respect to any other
obligation or liability of the Seller not explicitly included within the
definition of Assumed Liabilities.
2.03 The Purchase Price. The purchase price ("Purchase Price") shall be
an aggregate of $10,532,000, subject to adjustment as provided in this Section
2.03, Section 2.06, the last sentence of Section 6.01 and Section 9.01(d) below,
and shall be paid in the following manner:
(a) $9,990,000 in cash (subject to adjustment per Section 2.06(a)),
payable to Seller on the Closing Date, by wire transfer or delivery of
other immediately available funds;
(b) $250,000 in cash, payable to the Seller on the date which is six
(6) months following the Closing Date, subject to the provisions of Article
VII;
(c) an additional amount equal to 50% of the original cost to the
Seller of the items of equipment on the Essential Equipment List, payable
in cash at the closing; and
(d) the assumption of the Purchased Payables, assumed to be $292,000.
The Purchase Price shall be reduced by the dollar amount, if any, by
which the Aggregate Annual Revenues attributable to Lost Customers exceed
$1,700,000. For purposes of the Closing, the Parent will rely on the certificate
of the Seller referred to in Section 6.01(f), but the Aggregate Annual Revenues
attributable to Lost Customers will be subject to review and determination in
accordance with the procedures set forth in Sections 2.06(b), (c) and (d).
2.04 The Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (the "Closing") shall take place at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time,
at the offices of Day, Berry & Howard LLP in Boston, Massachusetts, on the day
which is the second business day following the Required Seller Shareholder Vote
or such other date as the Parties may mutually determine (the "Closing Date").
2.05 Allocation. The Purchase Price shall be allocated among the
Acquired Assets in accordance with their relative fair market values and
pursuant to the Code, in each case by the mutual agreement in good faith by the
Buyer, the Parent and the Seller, such agreement to be reached within 30 days
following final determination of the Actual Values pursuant to Section 2.06. The
parties shall report consistently with such allocation on all income tax returns
and other statements filed with any governmental body, agency, official or
authority. The Buyer, the Parent and the Seller shall furnish each other with a
copy of the information it proposes to submit to the Internal Revenue Services
at least 30 days prior to the due date for filing such material, and the parties
shall furnish information consistent therewith to the Internal Revenue Service
in connection with the filing of their federal income tax returns for the
respective fiscal year ending on or after the Closing Date.
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2.06 Adjustments of Purchase Price. The Purchase Price specified in
Section 2.03 above assumes that the sum of (i) Purchased Receivables and (ii)
Purchased Inventory, less the sum of (iii) Purchased Payables and (iv) Product
Claims in excess of $50,000, equals $1,754,000 (the "Target Sum"). Any payment
made by either party, pursuant to this Section 2.06 shall be made in immediately
available funds.
(a) Three business days prior to the Closing Date, the Seller, the
Parent and the Buyer shall, in good faith and in accordance with GAAP, (i)
estimate the Purchased Receivables, the Purchased Inventory, the Purchased
Payables and the Product Claims in excess of $50,000 as of the Effective
Time, and (ii) prepare a schedule reflecting the same in reasonable detail
(the "Closing Date Estimated Sum Schedule") . In the event that the sum of
such estimated Purchased Receivables and Purchased Inventory less the sum
of such estimated Purchased Payables and such Product Claims in excess of
$50,000 (the "Estimated Sum"), as shown on the Closing Date Estimated Sum
Schedule, is greater or less than the Target Sum, then the portion of the
Purchase Price deliverable at the Closing pursuant to Section 2.03(a) shall
be increased or reduced dollar-for-dollar to the extent which the Estimated
Sum is greater than or less than the Target Sum. For purposes of making
such estimate of Purchased Inventory, during such three business day
period, the Buyer shall be permitted to take a physical count of the
Purchased Inventory, which process shall be observed by representatives of
the Buyer's accountants and one or more representatives of the Seller. The
results of such count shall be made available to the Seller.
(b) Immediately following the Closing, the Buyer shall complete, if
required, the process of taking a physical count of the Purchased
Inventory, as contemplated by Section 2.06(a), which completion shall be
observed by representatives of the Buyer's accountants and one or more
representatives of the Seller. The results of such completed inventory
count shall be made available to the Seller. Within 60 days after the
Closing Date (or earlier if reasonably possible), the Parent and the Buyer
shall, in good faith and in accordance with GAAP, calculate the actual
Purchased Receivables, Purchased Inventory, Purchased Payables and Product
Claims in excess of $50,000 as of the Effective Time (each, an "Actual
Value," together, the "Actual Values") and shall submit a schedule showing
in reasonable detail the Actual Values and the Actual Sum (as defined
below) to Seller for approval. If the parties cannot agree on such Actual
Values or Actual Sum within ten (10) business days of their submission to
Seller, the disagreement shall be resolved pursuant to Section 2.06(d)
below. (The sum of the actual Purchased Receivables and the actual
Purchased Inventory less the sum of the actual Purchased Payables and the
Product Claims in excess of $50,000 is referred to as the "Actual Sum").
Notwithstanding the foregoing requirements that Purchased Inventory be
valued in accordance with GAAP, it is agreed that certain units of returned
Purchased Products which are included in the Purchased Inventory as of the
Effective Time may be valued at their reusable bill of materials costs (but
not in excess of $2.70 per unit); provided, that the Seller agrees to use
its reasonable efforts to eliminate such units of returned Purchased
Products from Purchased Inventory prior to the Effective Time; and
provided, further, that the aggregate increment to the value of Purchased
Inventory caused by this valuation methodology will not exceed $25,000 as
of the Effective Time.
(c) Thirty (30) days after submission of the Actual Values and the
Actual Sum (or, if there is a disagreement with respect to any Actual Value
or the Actual Sum, ten (10) business days after such disagreement is
finally resolved pursuant to Section 2.06(d) below), (i) the Seller shall
pay to Buyer the entire amount, if any, by which the Estimated Sum used at
Closing exceeds the Actual Sum, or (ii) the Buyer or the Parent shall pay
to Seller the entire amount, if any, by which the Estimated Sum used at
Closing is less than the Actual Sum.
(d) Disagreements with respect to any Actual Value or the Actual Sum
not resolved within ten (10) business days of the submission of the same to
Seller shall be submitted to a mutually acceptable accountant or accounting
firm who or which has not performed services for the Buyer, the Parent or
the Seller within the five years preceding the Closing Date (the
"Independent Accountant") for resolution whose determination shall be
conclusive and binding on the parties hereto. The Buyer, the Parent and the
Seller shall use their best efforts to cause Independent Accountant to
render its decision within thirty (30) days after the parties' submission
of the dispute. In the event that Independent Accountant is unwilling or
unable to serve in such capacity, the parties will select a mutually
acceptable replacement. The fees and disbursements of Independent
Accountant or any replacement thereto for the services set forth in this
Section 2.07(e) shall be shared equally between the parties hereto.
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ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER
The Seller represents and warrants to the Parent and the Buyer that the
statements contained in this Article III are correct and complete as of the date
of this Agreement, except as set forth in the disclosure schedule accompanying
this Agreement and initialed by the Parties (the "Disclosure Schedule"), and
that such statements will be correct and complete as of the Closing Date (as
though made then and as though the Closing Date were substituted for the date of
this Agreement throughout this Article III), except as set forth on the
Disclosure Schedule as the same may be amended on or prior to the Closing Date.
All information disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule regardless of where it
appears shall be deemed disclosed for purposes of all representations and
warranties in this Article III and for other purposes of this Agreement.
3.01 Organization of the Seller. The Seller is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its formation.
3.02 Authorization of Transaction. The Seller has full right, power,
authority and capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Related
Agreements to which it is or may become party and to perform its obligations
hereunder and thereunder. This Agreement and the Related Agreements to which the
Seller is or may become a party constitute (or will constitute when executed or
delivered) the valid and legally binding obligations of the Seller, enforceable
in accordance with their respective terms.
3.03 Noncontravention. Neither the execution and the delivery of this
Agreement and the Related Agreements, nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby (including the assignments and assumptions
referred to in Article II above), will (a) violate any constitution, statute,
regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other
restriction of any government, governmental agency, or court to which the Seller
is subject or any provision of the Seller's Articles of Incorporation, charter
or bylaws of the Seller, or (b) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute
a default under, result in the acceleration of, create in any party the right to
accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, or require any notice under any
agreement, contract, license, instrument, or other arrangement to which Seller
is a party or by which it is bound relating to the Acquired Assets or the
Assumed Liabilities, or to which any of the Acquired Assets is subject, other
than as cured or paid. The Seller does not need to give any notice to, make any
filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any government
or governmental agency in order for the Parties to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
3.04 Title to Assets. Except as set forth in Section 3.04 of the
Disclosure Schedule, the Seller has good and marketable title to or a valid
leasehold interest in the Acquired Assets.
3.05 Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in Section 3.05 of the
Disclosure Schedule, the Seller has no Subsidiaries and does not own, directly
or indirectly, any of the capital stock or beneficial or ownership interests of
any corporation, association, partnership, trust, joint venture, limited
liability company or similar entity. To the extent applicable, the
representations and warranties in this Article III, other than this Section
3.05, shall also be deemed to have been made on behalf of the Subsidiaries,
substituting the term "Subsidiaries" for the term "the Seller."
3.06 Financial Statements. Seller has previously delivered to the
Parent and Buyer true and complete copies of the following financial statements
(collectively the "Financial Statements"): (i) the unaudited balance sheet and
statements of income, retained earnings, and cash flows of the Seller, as filed
by Seller in the Form 10-Q; and (ii) audited balance sheets and statements of
income, retained earnings, changes in equity, and cash flows of the Seller as
filed by Seller in the Form 10-K (the last date of the fiscal year covered by
such Form 10-K, the "Most Recent Fiscal Year End"). The Financial Statements
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(including the notes thereto) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied
on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby except as disclosed
in the notes to such financial statements, present fairly the financial
condition of the Seller as of such dates and the results of operations of the
Seller for such periods, subject, in the case of the Form 10-Q, to year end
adjustments. The aggregate revenues of the Seller for the six month period
ending October 31, 2003, computed in accordance with GAAP, were no less than
$4,900,000. The unaudited balance sheet contained in the Form 10-Q is herein
referred to as the "Form 10-Q Balance Sheet."
3.07 Events Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Year End. Since the Most
Recent Fiscal Year End, there has not been any change in the business, financial
condition, operations, results of operations, or future prospects of the Seller
that constitutes a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, since that date and to the extent that any of the following
individually or when aggregated with other such items of the same or any other
category below constitutes a Material Adverse Effect:
(a) No party (including the Seller) has accelerated, terminated,
modified, or canceled any agreement, contract or license (or series of
related agreements, contracts and licenses) relating to the Acquired Assets
or the Assumed Liabilities and involving more than $25,000 to which the
Seller is a party or by which it is bound;
(b) The Seller has not canceled, compromised, waived, or released any
material right or claim (or series of related material rights and claims)
relating to the Acquired Assets or the Assumed Liabilities;
(c) The Seller has not experienced any material damage, destruction,
or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) to the Acquired Assets;
(d) The Seller has not issued or agreed to issue any substantial
customer refunds, allowances or rebates relating to the Purchased Products;
(e) The Seller has not sold, leased, licensed, furnished, transferred
or assigned any Purchased Products or guaranteed any distribution, sales
agency or any reseller rights, or created any Security Interest or other
encumbrance, as to the Purchased Products, except for sales in the Ordinary
Course of Business; and
(f) The Seller has not entered into any agreement committing the
Seller to do any of the foregoing.
3.08 Undisclosed Liabilities. To the Seller's Knowledge, the Seller
does not have any liability included within the Assumed Liabilities (and there
is no basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing,
investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand against it giving rise to any
such liability), except for (i) liabilities expressly set forth in the Form 10-Q
Balance Sheet , and (ii) liabilities which have arisen after the Most Recent
Fiscal Year End in the Ordinary Course of Business (none of which results from,
arises out of, relates to, is in the nature of, or was caused by any material
breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort, infringement, or violation of
law). To the Seller's Knowledge, there are no Purchased Payables or Product
Claims other than those identified in reasonable detail on the Disclosure
Schedule.
3.09 Legal Compliance. The Seller has complied in all material respects
with all applicable laws (including rules, regulations, codes, plans,
injunctions, judgments, orders, decrees, rulings, and charges thereunder) of
federal, state, local, and foreign governments (and all agencies thereof). The
Seller has not received any notice from any such governmental authority of any
such violation or alleged violation, and no action, suit, proceeding, hearing,
investigation, charge, complaint, claim, demand, or notice has been filed or
commenced against it alleging any failure so to comply.
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3.10 Tax Matters. The Seller has filed in accordance with applicable
law all Tax Returns that it was required to file. All such Tax Returns were
correct and complete in all material respects. All Taxes owed by the Seller
(whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid or accrued and disclosed
to the Parent if material. The Seller is not currently the beneficiary of any
extension of time within which to file any Tax Return. No claim has been made in
the five year period ending on the Closing Date by an authority in a
jurisdiction where the Seller does not file Tax Returns that it is or may be
subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. There are no Security Interests on any
of the assets of the Seller that arose in connection with any failure (or
alleged failure) to pay any Tax.
3.11 Intellectual Property.
(a) To the Seller's Knowledge, the Seller has the sole and exclusive
right to use the names "Chart Reader," "CHR Recorder," "Cox," "Cox1,"
"Cox3," "CoxBlue," "Cox Digital Pulp Probe," "Cox MiniTemp FS," "Cox
TempTester IR," "Cobra," "DataSource," "Dickson Recorder," "DFR Logger,"
"DS Pro," "IR-Temp," "IR Laser," "PC Transit Logger," "PC Transit
Software," "SmartProbe," "TempList," "ThermalPro," "Tracer," "Tracer
Software," "RealTimeAlert," "Teletemp Recorder" and "WP Probe" as used in
the Business, to the extent that any party may, under applicable law,
obtain exclusive rights to any such names.
(b) To the Seller's Knowledge, the Seller owns or has the right to use
pursuant to license, sublicense, agreement, or permission all Intellectual
Property necessary for the operation of its businesses as presently
conducted. To the Seller's Knowledge, each item of Intellectual Property
owned or used by the Seller immediately prior to the Closing hereunder will
be owned or available for use by the Buyer on identical terms and
conditions immediately subsequent to the Closing hereunder.
(c) To the Seller's Knowledge, the Seller has not interfered with,
infringed upon, misappropriated, or otherwise come into conflict with any
Intellectual Property rights of third parties, and none of the Seller's
directors and officers (and employees with responsibility for Intellectual
Property matters) have ever received any charge, complaint, claim, demand,
or notice alleging any such interference, infringement, misappropriation,
or violation (including any claim that the Seller must license or refrain
from using any Intellectual Property rights of any third party). To the
Seller's Knowledge, no third party has interfered with, infringed upon,
misappropriated, or otherwise come into conflict with any Intellectual
Property rights of the Seller.
(d) Section 3.11(d) of the Disclosure Schedule identifies each patent,
trademark registration or copyright registration which has been issued to
the Seller with respect to any of its Intellectual Property, identifies
each pending patent application or application for trademark registration
which the Seller has made with respect to any of its Intellectual Property,
identifies each license, agreement, or other permission which the Seller
has granted to any third party with respect to any of its Intellectual
Property (together with any exceptions) and identifies each website owned
by the Seller or used in connection with the Business. The Seller has
delivered to the Buyer correct and complete copies of all such patents,
registrations, applications, licenses, agreements, and permissions (as
amended to date). Section 3.11(d) of the Disclosure Schedule also
identifies each trade name or unregistered trademark used by the Seller in
connection with the Business. With respect to each item of Intellectual
Property required to be identified in Section 3.11(d) of the Disclosure
Schedule:
(i) To the Seller's Knowledge, the Seller possesses all right,
title, and interest in and to the item, free and clear of any Security
Interest, license, or other restriction;
(ii) To the Seller's Knowledge, the item is not subject to any
outstanding injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge;
(iii) The Seller has not been served with notice of any action,
suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or
demand is pending, and, to the Seller's Knowledge, no such action,
suit, proceeding, hearing, charge, complaint, claim or demand is
threatened, which challenges the legality, validity, enforceability,
use, or ownership of the item; and
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(iv) The Seller has not agreed to indemnify any Person for or
against any interference, infringement, misappropriation, or other
conflict with respect to the item.
(e) Section 3.11(e) of the Disclosure Schedule identifies each item of
Intellectual Property that the Seller uses in relation to the Acquired
Assets, pursuant to license, sublicense, agreement, or permission. The
Seller has delivered to the Parent and the Buyer correct and complete
copies of all such licenses, sublicenses, agreements, and permissions (as
amended to date). With respect to each item of Intellectual Property
required to be identified in Section 3.11 (e) of the Disclosure Schedule,
to the Seller's Knowledge;
(i) The license, sublicense, agreement, or permission covering
the item is legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and
effect;
(ii) The license, sublicense, agreement, or permission will
continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force
and effect on identical terms following the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby (including the assignments and
assumptions referred to in Article II above);
(iii) No party to the license, sublicense, agreement, or
permission is in breach or default, and no event has occurred which
with notice or lapse of time would constitute a breach or default or
permit termination, modification, or acceleration thereunder;
(iv) No party to the license, sublicense, agreement, or
permission has repudiated any provision thereof;
(v) With respect to each sublicense, the representations and
warranties set forth in subsections (i) through (iv) above are true
and correct with respect to the underlying license;
(vi) The underlying item of Intellectual Property is not subject
to any outstanding injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or
charge;
(vii) No action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation,
charge, complaint, claim, or demand is pending or is threatened which
challenges the legality, validity, or enforceability of the underlying
item of Intellectual Property; and
(viii) The Seller has not granted any sublicense or similar right
with respect to the license, sublicense, agreement, or permission.
(f) None of the Seller, the Buyer or the Parent will interfere with,
infringe upon, misappropriate, or otherwise come into conflict with, any
Intellectual Property rights of third parties as a result of the continued
use, license or sales of the Purchased Products in a manner consistent with
the operation of the Business prior to the Closing Date.
3.12 Inventory. The Purchased Inventory consists of raw materials and
supplies, manufactured and purchased parts, goods in process, and finished
goods, all of which are carried in the Financial Statements, in accordance with
GAAP (except as provided in the last sentence of Section 2.06(b)). The Seller
holds no inventory on a consignment basis.
3.13 Contracts. Section 3.13 of the Disclosure Schedule lists all
written contracts, agreements and other written arrangements, in connection with
the Purchased Products, to which the Seller is a party. The Seller has no
material oral contracts, or material written contracts which have not been
signed by all parties thereto, of the type listed in this Section 3.13. The
Seller has delivered to the Parent and the Buyer a correct and complete copy of
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each written agreement listed in Section 3.13 of the Disclosure Schedule (as
amended to date). With respect to each such agreement, to the Seller's
Knowledge: (i) the agreement is legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full
force and effect; (ii) the agreement will continue to be legal, valid, binding,
enforceable, and in full force and effect on identical terms following the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (including the assignments
and assumptions referred to in Article II above); (iii) neither the Seller nor
any other party is in breach or default, and no event has occurred which with
notice or lapse of time would constitute a breach or default, or permit
termination, modification, or acceleration, under the agreement; (iv) no party
has repudiated any provision of the agreement; (v) no such agreement requires
the Seller to supply or purchase goods, services or materials for periods longer
than one year or in any guaranteed minimum amount; (vi) no such agreement
contains any material penalty or restocking or similar charges to the Seller in
the event of its termination; (vii) no such agreement may not be cancelled by
the Seller on less than 90 days notice; and (viii) no such agreement grants
exclusive territorial distribution or similar marketing rights to a third party
for periods greater than one year. Section 3.13 of the Disclosure Schedules
lists all of the material agreements with respect to which consent is a
prerequisite to assignment.
3.14 Accounts Receivable. All Purchased Receivables are reflected
properly on its books and records, in accordance with GAAP, and are valid
receivables subject to no setoffs or counterclaims except normal and customary
trade discounts and any reserves for doubtful accounts recorded in the Financial
Statements.
3.15 Litigation. Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth
each instance in which the Seller, in connection with the Acquired Assets or
Assumed Liabilities, (a) is subject to any outstanding injunction, judgment,
order, decree, ruling, or charge, or (b) is a party or, to the Seller's
Knowledge, is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit, proceeding,
hearing, or investigation of, in, or before any court or quasi-judicial or
administrative agency of any federal, state, local, or foreign jurisdiction or
before any arbitrator in any matters relating to the Acquired Assets or the
Assumed Liabilities.
3.16 Product Warranty. To the Seller's Knowledge, each Purchased
Product manufactured, sold, or delivered by the Seller has been in conformity in
all material respects with all applicable contractual commitments and all
express and implied warranties; to the Seller's Knowledge, the Seller has no
material liability or liabilities (determined individually or on an aggregate
basis), and there is no basis for any present or future action, suit,
proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand against
it giving rise to any material liability or liabilities, determined as
aforesaid, for replacement or repair thereof or other damages in connection
therewith; and no Purchased Product manufactured, sold, or delivered by the
Seller is subject to any guaranty, warranty, or other indemnity beyond the
applicable standard terms and conditions of sale or lease. Section 3.16 of the
Disclosure Schedule includes copies of the standard terms and conditions of sale
for the Seller (containing applicable guaranty, warranty, and indemnity
provisions) relating to the Purchased Products.
3.17 Product Liability. To the Seller's Knowledge, the Seller has no
liability (and there is no basis for any present or future action, suit,
proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand against
any of them giving rise to any liability) arising out of any injury to
individuals or property as a result of the ownership, possession, or use of any
Purchased Product manufactured, sold, or delivered by the Seller.
3.18 Customers, Resellers and Suppliers. In connection with the
Purchased Products, Schedule 3.18 hereto sets forth a correct and complete list
of the revenues from (but not the names of) each of the Top 50 Customers for the
12 months ended October 31, 2003. There are no outstanding disputes with any
customers, distributors, resellers, depots, sales agents or suppliers of the
Seller's businesses, other than disputes which would not have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. To the Seller's Knowledge, (a)
since the Most Recent Fiscal Year End, no supplier of the Seller's business has
refused to do business with the Seller or has stated its intention not to
continue to do business or to change its relationship or arrangements with
respect to the Seller's business, whether as a result of the transactions
contemplated hereby or otherwise, other than such refusals, statements of
intention, or changes which would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a
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Material Adverse Effect; and (b) from November 1, 2003 to the date of this
Agreement, no customer of the Seller has refused to do business with the Seller
or has stated its intention not to continue to do business or to change its
relationship or arrangements with respect to the Seller's business, other than
such refusals, statements of intention, or changes which would not have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Since the Most
Recent Fiscal Year End, no substantial customer refunds or rebates have been
agreed to by Seller. True and correct copies of all agreements with customers,
distributors, resellers, depots and sales agents have been delivered by the
Seller to Day, Berry & Howard LLP, attorneys for the Buyer. The certificate of
the Seller referred to in Section 6.01(f) will, when delivered to the Parent and
the Buyer at the Closing, accurately and completely disclose the Aggregate
Annual Revenues attributable to Lost Customers.
3.19 Insurance. The Seller has provided Buyer with copies of each
insurance policy (including policies providing property, casualty, liability)
covering the Acquired Assets, to which the Seller has been a party, a named
insured, or otherwise the beneficiary of coverage at any time within the past 18
months (each, an "Insurance Policy"). With respect to each such Insurance
Policy: (i) the Insurance Policy is or was legal, valid, binding, enforceable,
and in full force and effect for the periods indicated in such policies; (ii)
with respect to each Insurance Policy in effect on the Closing Date, will
continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect
on identical terms for at least seven (7) days (or such shorter period as the
Buyer requires to procure replacement coverages) following the Closing Date;
provided, that the Seller will continue such insurance coverage with respect to
loss of production equipment necessary to perform under the Manufacturing
Agreement for the term of the Manufacturing Agreement; (iii) the Seller is not
in breach or default (including with respect to the payment of premiums or the
giving of notices), and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of
time, would constitute such a breach or default, or permit termination,
modification, or acceleration, under the policy; and (iv) no party to the
Insurance Policy has repudiated any provision thereof.
3.20 Environmental Matters. Except as set forth on the Disclosure
Schedule:
(a) The Seller has complied with and is currently in compliance with
all Environmental and Safety Requirements, and has not received any oral or
written notice, report or information regarding any liabilities (whether
accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise) or any
corrective, investigatory or remedial obligations arising under
Environmental and Safety Requirements which relate to the Seller, to any
other Person for whose conduct the Seller is or may be held to be
responsible or to any properties or facilities now or previously owned by
Seller.
(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Seller has
obtained and complied with, and is currently in compliance with, all
permits, licenses and other authorizations that may be required pursuant to
any Environmental and Safety Requirements for the occupancy of their
respective properties or facilities or the operation of their respective
businesses. A list of all such permits, licenses and other authorizations
which are material to the Company or to any of its Subsidiaries is set
forth on the Disclosure Schedule.
(c) Neither this Agreement or any of the Related Agreements nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall
impose any obligations on the Seller or otherwise for site investigation or
cleanup, or notification to or consent of any government agencies or third
parties under any Environmental and Safety Requirements (including, without
limitation, any so called "transaction-triggered" or "responsible property
transfer" laws and regulations).
(d) None of the following exists at any property or facility now or
previously owned, occupied or operated by the Seller: (i) underground
storage tanks or surface impoundments; (ii) asbestos-containing material in
any form or condition; (iii) materials or equipment containing
polychlorinated biphenyls; or (iv) landfills.
(e) The Seller has not treated, stored, disposed of, arranged for or
permitted the disposal of, transported, handled or Released any substance
(including, without limitation, any hazardous substance) or owned, occupied
or operated any facility or property, so as to give rise to liabilities of
the Seller for response costs, natural resource damages or attorneys' fees
pursuant to CERCLA or any other Environmental and Safety Requirements.
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(f) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no facts, events
or conditions relating to the past or present properties, facilities or
operations of the Seller shall prevent, hinder or limit continued
compliance with Environmental and Safety Requirements, give rise to any
corrective, investigatory or remedial obligations pursuant to Environmental
and Safety Requirements or give rise to any other liabilities (whether
accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise) pursuant to
Environmental and Safety Requirements, including; without limitation, those
liabilities relating to onsite or offsite Releases or threatened Releases
of hazardous materials, substances or wastes, personal injury, property
damage or natural resources damage.
(g) The Seller has not, either expressly or by operation of law,
assumed or undertaken any liability or corrective investigatory or remedial
obligation of any other Person relating to any Environmental and Safety
Requirements.
(h) No Environmental Lien has attached to any property or facility
owned, leased or operated by the Seller.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARENT AND THE BUYER
The Parent and the Buyer represent and warrant to the Seller that the
statements contained in this Article IV are correct and complete as of the date
of this Agreement, and that such statements will be correct and complete as of
the Closing Date (as though made then and as though the Closing Date were
substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this Article IV) except as
may be set forth in any supplemental disclosure delivered by the Parent to the
Seller on or prior to the Closing Date.
4.01 Organization of the Parent and the Buyer. The Parent is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. The Buyer is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation.
4.02 Authorization of Transaction. Each of the Parent and the Buyer has
full right, power and authority (including full corporate power and authority)
to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Related Agreements to which it is
or may become a party and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder.
This Agreement and the Related Agreements to which the Parent or the Buyer is or
may become a party constitute (or will constitute when executed and delivered)
the valid and legally binding obligations of the Parent and the Buyer,
enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.
4.03 Noncontravention. Neither the execution and the delivery of this
Agreement and the Related Agreements, nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby (including the assignments and assumptions
referred to in Article II above), will (a) violate any constitution, statute,
regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other
restriction of any government, governmental agency, or court to which the Parent
or the Buyer is subject or any provision of its charter or bylaws or (b)
conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the
acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify,
or cancel, or require any notice under any agreement, contract, lease, license,
instrument, or other arrangement to which the Parent or the Buyer is a party or
by which either of them is bound or to which any of their assets are subject,
except that the consent of the Parent's lender is required. Neither the Parent
nor the Buyer needs to give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any
authorization, consent, or approval of any government or governmental agency in
order for the Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (including the assignments and assumptions referred to in Article II
above).
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ARTICLE V
PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS
The Parties agree as follows with respect to the period between the
execution of this Agreement and the Closing Date.
5.01 General. Each of the Parties will use all reasonable efforts to
take all action and to do all things necessary, proper, or advisable in order to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including satisfaction, but not waiver, of the closing conditions set forth in
Article VI below).
5.02 Notices and Consents. The Seller will give any notices to third
parties, and the Seller will use all reasonable efforts (exclusive of payment)
to obtain any third party consents that the Parent reasonably may request in
connection with the matters referred to in Section 3.03 above. Each of the
Parties will give any notices to, make any and further filings with, and use all
reasonable efforts to obtain any authorizations, consents, and approvals of
governments and governmental agencies in connection with the matters referred to
in Section 3.03 and Section 4.03 above.
5.03 Preparation of Proxy Statement; Shareholder Meeting.
(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of this
Agreement, Seller shall prepare and file with the SEC proxy materials
reasonably acceptable to the Seller and the Parent which shall constitute
the "Proxy Statement." The Proxy Statement shall comply as to all form and
all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act
and Exchange Act. The Seller shall, as promptly as practicable after
receipt thereof, provide the Parent and the Buyer with copies of any
written comments and advise the Parent and the Buyer of any oral comments,
with respect to the Proxy Statement received from the SEC. Notwithstanding
any other provision herein to the contrary, no amendment or supplement
(including incorporation by reference) to the Proxy Statement shall be made
without the approval of the Parent and the Buyer, which approval shall not
be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Seller will use reasonable best
efforts to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to Seller's shareholders,
and shall furnish all information concerning the Seller as may be
reasonably requested in connection with any such action. The Seller will
advise the Buyer and the Parent, promptly after it receives notice thereof,
of any request by the SEC for amendment of the Proxy Statement. If at any
time prior to the Closing Date, any information relating to the Seller,
should be discovered by the Seller which should be set forth in an
amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement so that it would not include
any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, Seller shall promptly notify
the Buyer and the Parent, and, to the extent required by law, rules or
regulations, an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such
information shall be promptly filed with the SEC and disseminated to the
shareholders of the Seller.
(b) The Seller (i) shall duly take all lawful action to call, give
notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its shareholders on a date as soon
as reasonably practicable (the "Seller Shareholder Meeting") and shall take
all lawful action to solicit the shareholder vote required under applicable
law ("Required Seller Shareholder Vote") with respect to a proposal to
approve this Agreement and the Related Agreements and to approve the sale
of the Acquired Assets as contemplated by this Agreement and the sale or
other disposition of Vitsab.
5.04 Operation of Business. The Seller will not engage in any practice,
take any action, or enter into any transaction outside the Ordinary Course of
Business. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Seller will not,
other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, (a) sell any of the Acquired
Assets or sell or license Purchased Products or grant any distribution, sales
agency or reseller rights as to the Purchased Products; (b) create any Security
Interest with respect to, or otherwise encumber, any Purchased Product; (c)
incur any additional Assumed Liabilities; (d) modify, amend or terminate any
Insurance Policy without the prior written consent of the Parent; or (e)
otherwise engage in any practice, take any action, or enter into any transaction
of the sort described in Section 3.07 above.
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5.05 Preservation of Business. The Seller will use commercially
reasonable efforts to keep its business and properties relating to the Acquired
Assets substantially intact, including its present operations, physical
facilities, working conditions, and relationships with licensers, suppliers and
customers.
5.06 Full Access; Planning for Transition. The Seller will permit
representatives of the Parent and the Buyer to have full access at all
reasonable times, with reasonable notice and in a manner so as not to interfere
with the normal business operations of the Seller, to all premises, properties,
personnel, books, records (including Tax records), contracts, and documents of
or pertaining to the Acquired Assets, but (until the Closing) not including
specific customer names or other confidential customer information. After the
proposed transaction contemplated by this Agreement is publicly announced by the
Seller, the Seller and the Parent will work together, consistent with the
prohibition on revealing customer names, to develop a mutually agreeable,
Seller-driven contact plan to optimize the post-Closing transition of the
customers and distributors of the Seller to comparable business relationships
with the Parent. To the extent and as soon as is feasible, and with the
permission of the customers in question, the Seller will permit the Parent to
contact from time to time prior to the Closing Date any customer of the Seller
which has given an indication that causes the Seller to believe that it has
become or is likely to become a Lost Customer. The Seller will have the right to
be present, either in person or by telephone, during all contact the Parent has
with any such Lost Customer. The Parent and the Buyer will not have any
discussions, either directly or indirectly, with Jens prior to the Closing
without the prior written consent of the Seller. If the Seller so consents to
such discussions, any participation in such discussions by the Parent's European
distributor will be conditioned upon the written agreement by the Parent, the
Buyer and such European distributor not to acquire an equity interest in, or
assets of, Jens or to enter into any type of letter of understanding or other
executed document with Jens, in each case for a period of one year from the date
of such agreement of the Parent, the Buyer and such European distributor (or if
the Closing occurs, until the Closing Date).
5.07 Notice of Developments. Each Party will give prompt written notice
to the other Party of any material adverse development causing a breach of any
of its own representations and warranties in Article III and Article IV above.
No disclosure by any Party pursuant to this Section 5.07, however, shall be
deemed to amend or supplement the Disclosure Schedule or to prevent or cure any
breach of any representation or warranty that was inaccurate as of the date it
was made or to prevent or cure any breach of covenant.
5.08 Exclusivity. The Seller will not (a) solicit, initiate, or
encourage the submission of any proposal or offer from any Person relating to
the acquisition of any partnership interest, or any substantial portion of the
assets, of Seller (including any acquisition structured as a merger,
consolidation, or share exchange) or (b) participate in any discussions or
negotiations regarding, furnish any information with respect to, assist or
participate in, or facilitate in any other manner any effort or attempt by any
Person to do or seek any of the foregoing. The Seller will notify the Buyer
immediately if any Person makes any proposal, offer, inquiry, or contact with
respect to any of the foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing
contained in this Section 5.08 shall prevent the Seller's Board from furnishing
information to or entering into discussions or negotiations with any unsolicited
Person, if and only to the extent that the Seller's Board shall have determined
in good faith, after receiving written advice from outside counsel, that such
action would, under applicable law, be consistent with the exercise of the
Board's fiduciary duties.
5.09 Break-Up Fee.
(a) In the event that either of the following occur, then the Seller
shall pay to the Parent a fee of $350,000 (the "Break-Up Fee"):
(i) The Seller materially breaches any provision of this
Agreement and the Buyer and the Parent do not subsequently consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby within 150 days following the
date of this Agreement; or
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(ii) The Seller terminates this Agreement, for any reason other
than a material breach of any provision of this Agreement by the Buyer
or the Parent (including without limitation the failure to occur,
within 150 days following the date of this Agreement, of any of the
conditions specified in Section 6.02 requiring performance by the
Parent or the Buyer), and within twelve (12) months from the date of
termination of this Agreement, the Seller consummates an alternative
transaction involving the sale, direct or indirect (by means of
merger, exchange or similar transaction or series of related
transactions), of all or substantially all of its assets other than
sales of its products in the Ordinary Course of Business (an
"Alternate Transaction").
(b) In the event that either the Buyer or the Parent terminates this
Agreement or takes such actions so as to prevent the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Related Agreements, for
any reason other than a material breach of any provision of this Agreement
by the Seller (including without limitation the failure to occur, within
150 days following the date of this Agreement, of any of the conditions
specified in Section 6.01 and requiring performance by the Seller), then
the Parent shall pay the Seller an amount equal to the Break-Up Fee
described in Section 5.09(a) above.
(c) The Break-up Fee will become due in immediately available funds
upon the earlier to occur of (i) the closing of an Alternative Transaction,
or (ii) the 45th day following the material breach triggering the
obligation to pay the Break-Up Fee.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION TO CLOSE
6.01 Conditions to Obligation of the Parent and the Buyer. The
obligation of the Parent and the Buyer to consummate the transactions to be
performed by it in connection with the Closing is subject to satisfaction of the
following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties set forth in Article III above
(taken collectively and individually) shall be true and correct in all
material respects at and as of the date of the Agreement, and such
representation and warranties (taken collectively and individually) shall
be true and correct in all material respects at and as of the Closing Date,
without giving any effect to any amendment to the Disclosure Schedule
delivered by the Seller to the Buyer after the date of this Agreement;
(b) The Seller shall have performed and complied with all of its
covenants hereunder in all material respects through the Closing Date;
(c) The Seller shall have procured all of the third party consents
specified in Section 5.02 above;
(d) No action, suit, or proceeding shall be pending or threatened
before any court or quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any federal,
state, local, or foreign jurisdiction or before any arbitrator wherein an
unfavorable injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge would
(i) prevent consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, (ii) cause any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement to be rescinded following consummation, or (iii) affect adversely
the right of the Parent or the Buyer to own the Acquired Assets, or to
operate the former businesses of the Seller (and no such injunction,
judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge shall be in effect);
(e) The Seller shall have obtained the Required Seller Shareholder
Vote specified in Section 5.03 above;
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(f) Kurt C. Reid and Brian D. Fletcher, in their capacities as
Co-Chief Executive Officers of the Seller, Dr. James L. Cox, in his
capacity as Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of the Seller, John R.
Stewart, in his capacity as Chief Financial Officer of the Seller, and
David K. Caskey, in his capacity as President of the Cox Recorders Division
shall have delivered to the Parent and the Buyer a certificate in form and
substance as set forth in Exhibit K attached hereto to the effect that each
of the conditions specified above in Sections 6.02(a) through (e) is
satisfied in all respects and covering in reasonable detail the amount, if
any, of Aggregate Annual Revenues attributable to Lost Customers;
(g) The Seller's Secretary shall have executed and delivered to the
Parent and the Buyer a certificate in form and substance as set forth in
Exhibit L attached hereto regarding the Seller's authorizing resolutions
and incumbency of officers;
(h) The Seller shall have executed and delivered to the Parent and the
Buyer a certificate in form and substance as set forth in Exhibit M
attached hereto to the effect that Net Revenues, calculated in good faith,
as of the Effective Time, are at least $8,000,000;
(i) The Seller shall have executed and delivered the Bill of Sale, and
all additional transfer documents required to validly assign to the Parent
or the Buyer, in recordable form, all of the Acquired Assets;
(j) The Seller shall have executed and delivered the Assumption, and
all additional transfer documents required for the Parent and Buyer to
validly assume the Assumed Liabilities;
(k) The Seller shall have delivered to the Parent and the Buyer
releases of any Security Interests identified in Section 3.04 of the
Disclosure Schedule (including, but not limited to the Security Interests
of Technology Investors), together with termination statements, discharges
and the like in recordable form, or agreements from such secured parties in
form acceptable to the Parent and the Buyer to provide such releases,
termination statements, discharges and the like upon receipt of the
payments specified in such agreements;
(l) The Seller shall have received all other authorizations, consents,
and approvals of governments and governmental agencies referred to in
Section 3.03 above;
(m) Dr. James L. Cox shall have entered into the Cox Consulting
Agreement;
(n) Messrs. Brian D. Fletcher and Kurt C. Reid shall have entered into
the Fletcher Consulting Agreement and the Reid Consulting Agreement,
respectively;
(o) The Seller shall have executed and delivered the Manufacturing
Agreement;
(p) The Seller shall have executed and delivered the Vitsab Agreement;
(q) The Parent and the Buyer shall have received from counsel to the
Seller an opinion in form and substance as set forth in Exhibit N attached
hereto, addressed to the Parent and the Buyer, and dated as of the Closing
Date; and
(r) All actions to be taken by the Seller in connection with
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and all certificates,
opinions, instruments, and other documents required to effect the
transactions contemplated hereby will be satisfactory in form and substance
to the Buyer.
The Buyer may waive any condition specified in this Section 6.01 if it
executes a writing so stating at or prior to the Closing; provided,
however, that if Seller is unable to satisfy the condition set forth in
Section 6.01(h) above, the Buyer may so waive such condition, in which case
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the portion of the Purchase Price deliverable at the Closing pursuant to
Section 2.03(a) shall be reduced dollar-for-dollar to the extent which the
Net Revenues, calculated by the Seller in good faith, as of the Effective
Time, are less than $8,000,000.
6.02 Conditions to Obligation of the Seller. The obligation of the
Seller to consummate the transactions to be performed by it in connection with
the Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties set forth in Article IV above
(taken collectively and individually) shall be true and correct in all
material respects at and as of the date of this Agreement, and such
representations and warranties (taken collectively and individually) shall
be true and correct in all material respects at and as of the Closing,
without giving any effect to any supplemental disclosure delivered by the
Parent to the Seller after the date of this Agreement;
(b) The Parent and the Buyer shall have performed and complied with
all of its covenants hereunder in all material respects through the
Closing;
(c) No action, suit, or proceeding shall be pending or threatened
before any court or quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any federal,
state, local, or foreign jurisdiction or before any arbitrator wherein an
unfavorable injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge would
(i) prevent consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or (ii) cause any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement to be rescinded following consummation (and no such injunction,
judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge shall be in effect);
(d) The CEO of the Buyer, in his capacity as CEO of the Buyer, and the
CEO of the Parent, in his capacity of CEO of the Parent, shall have
delivered to the Seller a certificate in form and substance as set forth in
Exhibit O attached hereto to the effect that each of the conditions
specified above in Sections 6.02(a) through (c) is satisfied in all
respects;
(e) The Buyer's Secretary and the Parent's Secretary shall have
executed and delivered to the Seller certificates in form and substance as
set forth in Exhibits P1 and P2 attached hereto regarding the Buyer's and
the Parent's charter, by-laws, authorizing resolutions, and incumbency of
officers;
(f) The Parent and the Buyer shall have received all other
authorizations, consents, and approvals of governments and governmental
agencies referred to in Section 4.03 above;
(g) The Seller shall have obtained the Required Seller Shareholder
Vote specified in Section 5.03 above;
(h) The Buyer shall have executed and delivered the Assumption
Agreement, and all additional documents required for the Parent and Buyer
to validly assume the Assumed Liabilities;
(i) The Parent shall have entered into the Cox Consulting Agreement;
(j) The Parent shall have entered into the Reid Consulting Agreement
and Fletcher Consulting Agreement;
(k) The Parent shall have offered employment to David K. Caskey and,
if Mr. Caskey so accepted, the Parent shall have entered into the Caskey
Employment Agreement;
(l) The Parent shall have offered employment to each Transferred
Employee and, for each Transferred Employee who so accepts, the Parent
shall have entered into the Transferred Employee Offer;
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(m) The Seller shall have received from counsel to the Parent and
Buyer an opinion in form and substance as set forth in Exhibit Q attached
hereto, addressed to the Seller, and dated as of the Closing Date; and
(n) All actions to be taken by the Buyer and the Parent in connection
with consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and all
certificates, opinions, instruments, and other documents required to effect
the transactions contemplated hereby will be satisfactory in form and
substance to the Seller.
The Seller may waive any condition specified in this Section 6.02 if it
executes a writing so stating at or prior to the Closing.
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
7.01 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All of the
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement shall survive the
Closing and continue in full force and effect for a period of six months
thereafter and for such longer period as is necessary to resolve any claims
which have been asserted in writing during such six month period (the "Indemnity
Period").
7.02 Indemnification.
(a) The Seller (the "Indemnifying Party") shall indemnify the Buyer
and the Parent and their respective officers, directors, shareholders,
employees, agents and affiliates (each, an "Indemnified Party" together,
the "Indemnified Parties") and hold each of them harmless from and against
any Adverse Consequence suffered, incurred or sustained by any of them or
to which any of them becomes subject, resulting from, arising out of or
relating to (i) any inaccuracy in or breach of, or any alleged inaccuracy
in or alleged breach of, any representation or warranty or failure to
perform any covenant or agreement to be performed on or before the
Effective Time on the part of the Seller contained in this Agreement; (ii)
any intentional tort, including without limitation, fraud (including fraud
in the inducement), willful misconduct or bad faith by the Seller in
connection with this Agreement, or any transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby; and (iii) any and all actions, suits, proceedings, demands,
judgments, costs and legal and reasonable other expenses incident to any of
the matters referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 7.02(a).
Once it is determined there is such an indemnifiable event, the amount of
the Adverse Consequence shall be determined without giving effect to any
materiality qualification or any other materiality, dollar limit or similar
qualification contained in the representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement.
(b) All claims for indemnification by an Indemnified Party seeking
indemnity under this Agreement will be asserted and resolved as follows:
(i) In the event any claim or demand, in respect of which an
Indemnified Party might seek indemnity under this Agreement, is
asserted against or sought to be collected from such Indemnified Party
by a Person other than a party to this Agreement (a "Third Party
Claim"), the Indemnified Party shall deliver a notice (a "Claim
Notice") with reasonable promptness to the Indemnifying Party, which
Claim Notice shall provide reasonable detail relating to such Third
Party Claim, including the amount of Adverse Consequences claimed, to
the extent known. If the Indemnified Party fails to provide the Claim
Notice with reasonable promptness after the Indemnified Party receives
notice of such Third Party Claim, but in no case later than the
termination of the Indemnity Period, the Indemnifying Party shall not
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be obligated to indemnify the Indemnified Party with respect to such
Third Party Claim only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party
demonstrates that its ability to defend such Third Party Claim has
been irreparably prejudiced by such failure of the Indemnified Party.
The Indemnifying Party shall notify the Indemnified Party as soon as
practicable within the Dispute Period (as defined below) whether the
Indemnifying Party disputes its liability to the Indemnified Party,
and whether the Indemnifying Party desires, at its sole cost and
expense, to defend the Indemnified Party against such Third Party
Claim. The "Dispute Period" means the period ending thirty (30) days
following receipt by an Indemnifying Party of either a Claim Notice or
an Indemnity Notice (as hereinafter defined).
(ii) If the Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified Party
within the Dispute Period that the Indemnifying Party desires to
defend the Indemnified Party with respect to the Third Party Claim
pursuant to this Section 7.02, then the Indemnifying Party shall have
the right to defend, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party, at the sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying
Party, such Third Party Claim by all appropriate proceedings, which
proceedings must be vigorously and diligently prosecuted by the
Indemnifying Party to a final conclusion or may be settled at the
discretion of the Indemnifying Party; provided, however, that the
Indemnifying Party shall not be permitted to effect any settlement
without the written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld)
of the Indemnified Party unless (A) the sole relief provided in
connection with such settlement is monetary damages that are paid in
full by the Indemnifying Party, (B) such settlement involves no
finding or admission of any wrongdoing, violation or breach by any
Indemnified Party of any right of any other Person or any applicable
laws, contracts or governmental permits, and (C) such settlement has
no effect on any other claims that may be made against or liabilities
of any Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have full
control of such defense and proceedings, including any compromise or
settlement thereof (except as provided in the preceding sentence);
provided, however, that the Indemnified Party may, at its sole cost
and expense, at any time prior to the Indemnifying Party's delivery of
the notice referred to in the first sentence of this clause (ii), file
any motion, answer or other pleadings or take any other action that
the Indemnified Party reasonably believes to be necessary or
appropriate to protect its interests; and provided, further, that if
requested by the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnified Party shall, at
the sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party, provide
reasonable cooperation to the Indemnifying Party in contesting any
Third Party Claim that the Indemnifying Party elects to contest. The
Indemnified Party may participate in, but not control, any defense or
settlement of any Third Party Claim controlled by the Indemnifying
Party pursuant to this clause (ii) and, except as provided in the
first sentence of this clause (ii) and the preceding sentence, the
Indemnified Party will bear its own costs and expenses with respect to
such participation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnified
Party may take over the control of the defense or settlement of a
Third Party Claim at any time if it irrevocably waives its right to
indemnity with respect to such Third Party Claim.
(iii) If the Indemnifying Party fails to notify the Indemnified
Party within the Dispute Period that the Indemnifying Party desires to
defend the Third Party Claim pursuant to clause (ii) above or if the
Indemnifying Party gives such notice but fails to prosecute vigorously
and diligently or settle the Third Party Claim (in each case in
accordance with clause (ii) above), or if the Indemnifying Party fails
to give any notice whatsoever within the Dispute Period, then the
Indemnified Party will have the right to defend, at the sole cost and
expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Third Party Claim by all
appropriate proceedings, which proceedings will be prosecuted by the
Indemnified Party in a reasonable manner and in good faith or will be
settled at the discretion of the Indemnified Party (with the consent
of the Indemnifying Party, which consent will not be unreasonably
withheld). Subject to the immediately preceding sentence, the
Indemnified Party will have full control of such defense and
proceedings, including any compromise or settlement thereof; provided,
however, that if requested by the Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying
Party will, at the sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party,
provide reasonable cooperation to the Indemnified Party and its
counsel in contesting any Third Party Claim which the Indemnified
Party is contesting. The Indemnifying Party may participate in, but
not control, any defense or settlement controlled by the Indemnified
Party pursuant to this clause (iii), and the Indemnifying Party will
bear its own costs and expenses with respect to such participation.
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(iv) If the Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified Party
that it does not dispute its liability to the Indemnified Party with
respect to a Third Party Claim or fails to notify the Indemnified
Party within the Dispute Period whether the Indemnifying Party
disputes its liability to the Indemnified Party with respect to such
Third Party Claim, the Adverse Consequences in the amount specified in
the Claim Notice will be conclusively deemed a liability of the
Indemnifying Party, and the Indemnifying Party shall pay the amount of
such Adverse Consequences to the Indemnified Party, pursuant to
Section 7.02(c) below. If the Indemnifying Party has timely disputed
its liability with respect to such claim, the Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party will proceed in good faith to negotiate a resolution
of such dispute, and if not resolved through negotiations within the
Resolution Period (as defined below), such dispute shall be resolved
by litigation in a court of competent jurisdiction. The "Resolution
Period" means the period ending 30 days following expiration of the
Dispute Period.
(v) In the event any Indemnified Party should have a claim under
this Agreement against any Indemnifying Party that does not involve a
Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party shall deliver a notice (an
"Indemnity Notice") with reasonable promptness to the Indemnifying
Party, which Indemnity Notice shall provide reasonable detail relating
to such claim, including the amount of Adverse Consequences claimed,
to the extent known. If the Indemnified Party fails to provide the
Indemnity Notice with reasonable promptness, but in no case later than
the termination of the Indemnity Period, the Indemnifying Party shall
not be obligated to indemnify the Indemnified Party with respect to
such claim only to the extent that an Indemnifying Party demonstrates
that it has been irreparably prejudiced by such failure of the
Indemnified Party. If the Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified
Party that it does not dispute the claim described in such Indemnity
Notice or fails to notify the Indemnified Party within the Dispute
Period whether the Indemnifying Party disputes the claim described in
such Indemnity Notice, the Adverse Consequences in the amount
specified in the Indemnity Notice will be conclusively deemed a
liability of the Indemnifying Party, and the Indemnifying Party shall
pay the amount of such Loss to the Indemnified Party, pursuant to
Section 7.02(c) below. If the Indemnifying Party has timely disputed
its liability with respect to such claim, the Indemnifying Party and
the Indemnified Party will proceed in good faith to negotiate a
resolution of such dispute, and if not resolved through negotiations
within the Resolution Period, such dispute shall be resolved by
litigation in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7.02, the
Indemnifying Party's obligation to indemnify an Indemnified Party from and
against any Adverse Consequences resulting from any claim identified in a
Third Party Notice or an Indemnity Notice shall be subject to the following
limitations:
(i) the Indemnifying Party shall be liable to the Indemnified
Party only to the extent that Adverse Consequences identified in the
Third Party Notice or the Indemnity Notice, or in any prior Third
Party Notice or Indemnity Notice, as the case may be, are in excess,
in the aggregate, of twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000) (at which
point the Indemnifying Party will be obligated to indemnify the
Indemnified Party from and against all such Adverse Consequences
relating back to the first dollar); and
(ii) the aggregate amount of all payments made by the
Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party in satisfaction of claims
for indemnification covered by Claim Notices or Indemnity Notices
first presented to the Indemnifying Party during the Indemnity Period
shall not exceed, in the aggregate, $250,000 (the "Indemnity Amount");
and
(iii) claims for indemnification allowed with respect to the
Indemnity Period shall be set-off against any remaining amounts held
by the Parent in accordance with Section 2.03(b).
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7.03 Effect of Resolution of Claims. Any indemnity liability satisfied
by the Indemnifying Party out of the Indemnity Amount, pursuant to Section 7.02
above, will be treated for tax purposes as an adjustment to the Purchase Price.
7.04 Exclusivity of Indemnification Provisions. The foregoing
indemnification provisions are the exclusive remedy available to the Parent or
the Buyer for breaches of representations or warranties contained in this
Agreement, except in the case of fraud or a willful breach by the Seller of any
representations or warranties under this Agreement.
7.05 Right of Set-off. In the event of any failure of the Seller to pay
amounts to the Parent or the Buyer which are due pursuant to Section 2.06(c) of
this Agreement or pursuant to the Vitsab Agreement or the Manufacturing
Agreement, the Parent or the Buyer, as the case may be, may, following no less
than 10 days written notice to the Seller and without precluding the pursuit of
any other applicable remedy, elect to set-off the amount of such failure against
the remaining amount otherwise payable pursuant to Section 2.03(b) of this
Agreement.
7.06 Resolution of Claims. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this
Article VII, the Indemnified Party shall notify the Indemnifying Party of any
claims for indemnification. If the Indemnifying Party does not object by written
notice to the Indemnifying Party within 10 days of receipt of the notice of the
claim, the claim shall be deemed allowed for purposes of this Article VII. If
the Indemnifying Party objects to the allowance of the claim within such 10 day
period, such claim shall be resolved by binding arbitration in Charlotte, North
Carolina by a single arbitrator pursuant to the then-current Commercial
Arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment on the
arbitration award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. Except
to the extent that the arbitrator determines otherwise, the parties to the
dispute shall share equally the arbitrator's fees and any administrative fees,
but shall otherwise bear their own expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
following procedural rules shall apply to the arbitration. The arbitrator shall
be familiar with contracts of the type represented by this Agreement. The
arbitrator shall limit discovery to those items that in the judgment of the
arbitrator are essential to the determination of the matters in dispute. Except
for any stenographer and the arbitrator, attendance at the arbitration shall be
limited to the parties and their counsel and witnesses. Except as necessary for
purposes of an action to enforce, modify or vacate the arbitration award, all
documents and other information submitted to the arbitrator, including any
transcript of the proceedings and the arbitrator's award, shall be confidential
and shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the parties and their counsel
and financial advisors.
7.07 Termination of Indemnification. If, at the end of the Indemnity
Period (a) the Indemnified Parties have not submitted any claims of
indemnification pursuant to this Article VII; or (b) all claims of
indemnification submitted by the Indemnified Parties have been satisfied
pursuant to this Article VII, then the Parent shall promptly deliver the
remaining portion (if any) of the amount withheld pursuant to Section 2.03(b) to
the Seller by wire transfer or other immediately available funds.
7.08 Special Provisions for Environmental Matters. The parties hereto
further agree as follows:
(a) Environmental Claims. The Seller shall indemnify the Indemnified
Parties and hold each of them harmless from and against any Adverse
Consequence (including costs of cleanup, containment, or other remediation)
suffered, incurred or sustained by any of them or to which any of them
becomes subject, resulting from, arising out of or relating to any
Environmental Claim. For purposes of this Agreement, an "Environmental
Claim" shall include any of the following:
(i) any liability or corrective investigatory or remedial
obligation relating to any Environmental and Safety Requirements
arising out of or relating to:
(A) (1) the ownership, operation, or condition at any time
on or prior to the Closing Date of the any property or facility
owned, leased or operated by the Seller (whether real, personal,
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or mixed and whether tangible or intangible) in which Sellers has
or had an interest, or (2) any hazardous materials, substances or
wastes, chemical substances or mixtures, pesticides, pollutants,
contaminants, toxic chemicals, petroleum products or by-products,
asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (or PCBs), noise or radiation
or other contaminants that were present on any property or
facility owned, leased or operated by the Seller at any time on
or prior to the Closing Date;
(B) (1) any hazardous materials, substances or wastes,
chemical substances or mixtures, pesticides, pollutants,
contaminants, toxic chemicals, petroleum products or by-products,
asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (or PCBs), noise or radiation
or other contaminants, wherever located, that were, or were
allegedly, generated, transported, stored, treated, Released, or
otherwise handled by the Seller by any other Person for whose
conduct Seller is or may be held responsible at any time on or
prior to the Closing Date, or (2) any activities that were, or
were allegedly, conducted by the Seller or by any other Person
for whose conduct the Seller is or may be held responsible; or
(ii) any bodily injury (including illness, disability, and death,
and regardless of when any such bodily injury occurred, was incurred,
or manifested itself), personal injury, property damage (including
trespass, nuisance, wrongful eviction, and deprivation of the use of
real property), or other damage of or to any Person, including any
employee or former employee of the Seller or any other Person for
whose conduct the Seller is or may be held responsible, in any way
arising from or allegedly arising from any activity conducted or
allegedly conducted with respect to any property or facility owned,
leased or operated by the Seller (whether real, personal, or mixed and
whether tangible or intangible) in which Sellers has or had an
interest prior to the Closing Date, or from any hazardous materials,
substances or wastes, chemical substances or mixtures, pesticides,
pollutants, contaminants, toxic chemicals, petroleum products or
by-products, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (or PCBs), noise or
radiation or other contaminants that were (A) present or suspected to
be present on or before the Closing Date on or at any property or
facility owned, leased or operated by the Seller (whether real,
personal, or mixed and whether tangible or intangible) in which
Sellers has or had an interest (or present or suspected to be present
on any other property, if such materials or contaminants emanated or
allegedly emanated from any of the Seller's properties or facilities
and was present or suspected to be present on such properties or
facilities or prior to the Closing Date) or (B) Released or allegedly
Released by the Seller or any other Person for whose conduct the
Seller is or may be held responsible, at any time on or prior to the
Closing Date.
A claim for indemnification by any of the Indemnified Parties in
connection with an Environmental Claim shall be treated for all purposes as
any other Third Party Claim, and shall, without limiting the foregoing,
comply with the procedures and be subject to the same Indemnity Period and
aggregate Indemnity Amount set forth in this Article VII.
(b) Full Release. For good and valuable consideration, the receipt of
which is hereby acknowledged, the Seller hereby on its behalf, and on
behalf of any successors, predecessors, subsidiaries, affiliates, agents,
principals, attorneys and assigns, hereby releases and forever discharges
the Indemnified Parties together with each of their successors,
predecessors, heirs, executors, administrators, agents, attorneys and
assigns, from any and all claims, demands, damages, actions, causes of
action or suits of any kind or nature whatsoever or matters related in any
way to any and all claims, demands, damages, actions, causes of action or
suits of any kind or nature whatsoever or matter related in any way to
Environmental and Safety Requirements from the beginning of the world to
the date hereof, known and unknown. The Seller will provide written
confirmation of the provisions of this Section 7.08(b), in the form
attached as Exhibit R, at the Closing.
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ARTICLE VIII
POST-CLOSING COVENANTS
The Parties agree as follows with respect to the period following the
Closing.
8.01 Further Assurances; Access by the Parent and the Seller to Systems
and Records; Integration of Customer Databases. In case at any time after the
Closing any further action is necessary or desirable to effectively transfer and
assign to, and vest in, the Parent or the Buyer each of the Acquired Assets, the
Seller will take such further action without further consideration (including
the execution and delivery of such further instruments and documents) as the
Buyer reasonably may request. Such action will include without limitation the
referral to the Parent of all inquiries from customers or prospective customers
for any of the Purchased Products. After the Closing, the Seller will, and will
cause its professional advisors and agents to, cooperate with the Parent and the
Buyer to permit the Buyer to (i) enjoy the Seller's rating and benefits under
the workers' compensation laws of applicable jurisdictions, to the extent
permitted by such laws, and (ii) file on a timely basis all reports required to
be filed with any government or governmental agency. Following the Closing, the
Parent will provide to the Seller reasonable access to the accounting, sales,
business and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, personnel data and
records of the Seller in the possession of the Parent or its agents to the
extent requested to enable the Seller to account for pre-Closing activities of
the Seller and to wind down the Business, and the Seller may retain copies, in
electronic or hard copy form, of any such records which do not constitute
proprietary or trade secret information in relation to the Business. Following
the Closing, the Seller will provide to the Parent reasonable access to the
computer systems and accounting, sales, business and, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, personnel records of the Seller in the possession of the Seller
or its agents to the extent requested to enable the Parent to manage and account
for the Acquired Assets and Business, and the Parent may make copies, in
electronic or hard copy form, of any such data and records to the extent that
they relate to the Business. Following the Closing, the Parent and the Seller
will take reasonable steps to permit the Parent to integrate the customer
database of the Seller for Purchased Products with the customer database of the
Parent.
8.02 Announcements; Web Site Modifications. Any announcements by the
Seller or the Parent of the execution of this Agreement or the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby will be subject to the reasonable, advance
approval of the Seller and the Parent. The Seller and the Parent will cooperate
in modifying the Seller's web site as contemplated by subparagraph (b) of the
definition of Intellectual Property above. The expense of such modification will
be borne by the Seller. Following such modification, which shall be effective on
the Closing Date, visitors to such web site who have an interest in Purchased
Products will be directed by an appropriate announcement, reasonably acceptable
to the Seller and the Parent, and linked to the web site of the Parent.
8.03 Use of Seller's Facilities. For a period of up to four months
after the Closing (but no later than June 1, 2004 unless the Parent makes
suitable arrangements at its expense with the Seller's landlord), the Seller
will allow the Transferred Employees to operate out of Seller's facilities and
use its telephones, computers, and all necessary office equipment; provided,
however, that Seller shall not collect any rent or any share of overhead
administrative or other expenses from the Transferred Employees, the Parent or
the Buyer.
8.04 Use of Names. The Seller acknowledges and agrees that as a result
of the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby, the Buyer is
acquiring all of Seller's rights to use the names "Chart Reader," "CHR
Recorder," "Cox," "Cox1," "Cox3," "CoxBlue," "Cox Digital Pulp Probe," "Cox
MiniTemp FS," "Cox TempTester IR," "Cobra," "DataSource," "Dickson Recorder,"
"DFR Logger," "DS Pro," "IR-Temp," "IR Laser," "PC Transit Logger," "PC Transit
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Software," "SmartProbe," "TempList," "ThermalPro," "Tracer," "Tracer Software,"
"RealTimeAlert," "Teletemp Recorder" and "WP Probe" domestically and
internationally, for which the Seller acknowledges that it will have received
full and adequate consideration pursuant to this Agreement, and that the Seller
will not use, or grant to any third party the right to use, such names or any
similar names subsequent to the Closing; provided, that the Seller may continue
to use the name Cox Technologies, Inc. as its corporate name.
8.05 Covenant Not to Compete. For a period of five years from and after
the Closing Date, the Seller will not, directly or indirectly, (a) engage or
invest in, own, manage, operate, finance, control, or participate in the
ownership, management, operation, financing or control of, be employed by,
associated with, or in any manner be connected with, or lend its name or credit
to, or render services or advice to, in any business whose products or
activities compete in whole or in part with the Purchased Products or related
activities of the Seller conducted on the Closing Date in any geographic area in
which the Seller conducts that business as of the Closing Date; (b) solicit,
employ, or otherwise engage as an employee, independent contractor, or
otherwise, whether directly or for the benefit of any other person or entity,
any employee of the Parent or the Buyer; or (c) interfere with the Parent's or
the Buyer's relationship with any person, including any employee, contractor,
supplier or customer, or otherwise disparage the Parent or the Buyer or any of
their respective officers, directors, employees or agents; provided, however,
that no owner of less than 1% of the outstanding stock of any publicly traded
corporation shall be deemed to engage solely by reason thereof in any of its
businesses; provided, further, that the restrictions in this Section 8.05 shall
not apply to Vitsab. If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction
declares that any term or provision of this Section 8.05 is invalid or
unenforceable, the Parties agree that the court making the determination of
invalidity or unenforceability shall have the power to reduce the scope,
duration, or area of the term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases,
or to replace any invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a term or
provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the
intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement
shall be enforceable as so modified after the expiration of the time within
which the judgment may be appealed.
8.06 Confidentiality. Until the Closing, the Parent and Buyer shall
keep confidential all nonpublic information concerning the Seller furnished by
the Seller to the Parent or the Buyer in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby, unless compelled to disclose such information by judicial
or administrative process or by other requirements of law. Whether or not the
Closing is held hereunder, the Parent and Buyer shall continue to maintain such
confidence. The Seller shall keep confidential all non-public information
concerning the Parent furnished by the Parent to the Seller in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby, unless compelled to disclose such
information by judicial or administrative process or by other requirements of
law, including without limitations the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the
rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder. Whether or not the
Closing is held hereunder, the Seller shall continue to maintain such
confidence. In addition, if the Closing occurs, the Seller shall keep
confidential, shall not disclose to third parties and shall not use in any
manner which may injure or cause loss or may be calculated to injure or cause
loss, directly or indirectly, to the Parent or the Buyer, all non-public
information concerning the organization, business, finances or assets of the
Seller unless compelled to disclose such information by judicial or
administrative process or by other requirements of law, including without
limitations the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations
promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
8.06 Vitsab Sales Representative. To the extent and for the duration
(but in no event longer than one year) that the Seller's sales representative
for the Vitsab product line is employed by the Parent after the Closing Date,
the Parent will permit such sales representative to spend up to one-half (1/2)
day per week on Vitsab-related activities without charge-back for the salary of
such sales representative associated with such time spent. The Parent shall not,
however, be responsible for funding or reimbursing any Vitsab-related travel or
other expenses or any incentive or similar payments related to Vitsab
activities.
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ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION
9.01 Termination of Agreement. Subject to Section 5.09, this Agreement
may be terminated as follows:
(a) The Parent, the Buyer and the Seller may terminate this Agreement
by mutual written consent at any time prior to the Closing;
(b) The Parent and the Buyer may terminate this Agreement by giving
written notice to the Seller at any time prior to the Closing (i) in the
event the Seller has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant
contained in this Agreement in any material respect, the Parent has
notified the Seller of the breach, and the breach has continued without
cure for a period of 15 days after the notice of breach, or (ii) if the
Closing shall not have occurred on or before the 150th day from the date of
this Agreement, by reason of the failure of any condition precedent under
Section 6.01 hereof (unless the failure results primarily from the Parent
or the Buyer itself breaching any representation, warranty, or covenant
contained in this Agreement);
(c) The Parent and the Buyer may terminate this Agreement if, at any
time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing, the amount
of Aggregate Annual Revenues attributable to Lost Customers exceeds
$2,500,000.
(d) The Seller may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice
to the Buyer at any time prior to the Closing (i) in the event the Parent
or the Buyer has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant
contained in this Agreement in any material respect, the Seller has
notified the Parent of the breach, and the breach has continued without
cure for a period of 15 days after the notice of breach or (ii) if the
Closing shall not have occurred on or before the 150th day from the date of
this Agreement, by reason of the failure of any condition precedent under
Section 6.02 hereof (unless the failure results primarily from the Seller's
breaching any representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this
Agreement); and
(e) The Seller may terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the
Closing if an action, suit or proceeding of the type described in Sections
6.01(d) or 6.02 (c) shall be filed and be pending. If the Seller, and the
Parent and the Buyer, agree jointly to defend such an action, suit or
proceeding, the Parent shall bear the reasonable costs, including attorneys
fees, of such defense (but not any monetary damages awarded against the
Seller or any of its shareholders or other investors) unless and until the
action, suit or proceeding is settled, dismissed or decided by final,
nonappealable decision; provided, that if the Closing shall occur following
such a settlement, dismissal or final, nonappealable decision, one-half of
such defense costs shall be paid by the Seller as a credit to the Purchase
Price. No settlement of any such action, suit or proceeding shall be made
without the written consent of both the Seller and the Parent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
9.02 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this
Agreement and abandonment of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Seller,
the Parent or the Buyer, pursuant to this Article IX, written notice will be
given to the other parties and this Agreement will terminate (other than
Sections 5.09, 8.06, 10.01 and this Section 9.02) and the transactions
contemplated hereby will be abandoned, without further action by any of the
parties hereto. If this Agreement is terminated as provided herein:
(a) Upon request therefor, each of the parties hereto will redeliver
all documents, work papers and other material of the other party relating
to the transactions contemplated hereby, whether obtained before or after
the execution of this Agreement, to the party furnishing the same;
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(b) No party will have any further liability for a breach of any
representation, warranty, agreement, covenant or the provision of this
Agreement (except as provided in Sections 5.09, 8.06, 10.01 and this
Section 9.02), unless such breach was due to a willful or bad faith action
or omission of such party or any representative, agent, employee or
independent contractor thereof; and
(c) All filings, applications and other submissions made pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement will, to the extent practicable, be withdrawn
from the agency or other person to which made.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
10.01 Press Releases and Public Announcements. No Party shall issue any
press release or make any public announcement relating to the subject matter of
this Agreement prior to the Closing without the prior written approval of the
other Party; provided, however, that any Party may make any public disclosure it
believes in good faith is required by applicable law or any listing or trading
agreement concerning its publicly-traded securities (in which case the
disclosing Party will use its reasonable efforts to advise the other Party prior
to making the disclosure).
10.02 No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall not confer any
rights or remedies upon any Person other than the Parties and their respective
successors and permitted assigns.
10.03 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Related Agreements and the
Non-Disclosure Agreement constitute the entire agreement between the Parties and
supersede any prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or between
the Parties, written or oral, to the extent they related in any way to the
subject matter hereof.
10.04 Succession and Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the Parties named herein and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. No Party may assign either this Agreement or
any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written
approval of the other Parties; provided, however, that the Buyer may assign any
or all of its rights and interests hereunder to one or more of its affiliates.
10.05 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.
10.06 Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are
inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
10.07 Notices. All notices, consents, requests, waivers, demands,
claims, and other communications hereunder must be in writing. Any notice,
consent, request, waiver, demand, claim, or other communication hereunder shall
be deemed duly given if it is delivered by hand or if (and then two business
days after) it is sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth
below; provided, that in either case a copy is mailed by registered mail, return
receipt requested, to the appropriate addresses set forth below:
If to the Seller: Cox Technologies, Inc.
69 McAdenville Road
Belmont, North Carolina 28012-2434
Attn: Kurt C. Reid and Brian D. Fletcher,
Co-chief Executive Officers
Fax: 704-896-8602
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with a copy to: Robert M. Donlon
Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP
6000 Fairview Road
Suite 1125
Charlotte, NC 28210
Fax: 704-556-9554
If to the Parent or the Buyer: Sensitech Inc.
800 Cummings Center.
Suite 258X
Beverly, MA 01915
Attn: Eric B. Schultz
Fax: (978) 921-2112
with a copy to: Thomas C. Chase
Day, Berry & Howard LLP
260 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Fax: (617) 345-4757
Any Party may send any notice, request, demand, claim, or other communication
hereunder to the intended recipient at the address set forth above using any
other means (including personal delivery, expedited courier, messenger service,
fax, ordinary mail, or electronic mail), with a copy to the appropriate
addresses set forth below delivered by the same means, but no such notice,
request, demand, claim, or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly
given unless and until it actually is received by the intended recipient. Any
Party may change the address to which notices, requests, demands, claims, and
other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other Parties
notice in the manner herein set forth.
10.08 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the domestic laws of the State of Delaware without regard to
conflicts of laws principles.
10.09 Amendments and Waivers. No amendment of any provision of this
Agreement shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the
Parent, the Buyer and the Seller. No waiver by any Party of any default,
misrepresentation, or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether
intentional or not, shall be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent
default, misrepresentation, or breach of Warranty or covenant hereunder or
affect in any way any rights arising by virtue of any prior or subsequent such
occurrence.
10.10 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is
invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect
the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or
the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other
situation or in any other jurisdiction.
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10.11 Expenses. Each of the Parent, the Buyer and the Seller will bear
its own costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
10.12 Construction. The Parties have participated jointly in the
negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or
question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed
as if drafted jointly by the Parties, and no presumption or burden of proof
shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any
of the provisions of this Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between
the statements contained in this Agreement and those contained in the Disclosure
Schedule, the statements contained in this Agreement will control. The Parties
intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein shall
have independent significance. If any Party has breached any representation,
warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there
exists another representation, warranty, or covenant relating to the same
subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which the
Party has not breached shall not detract from or mitigate the fact that the
Party is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant. With
regard to all dates and time periods set forth in this Agreement, time is of the
essence.
10.13 Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules. The Exhibits and
Schedules identified in this Agreement and the Disclosure Schedule are
incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.
10.14 Specific Performance. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees
that the other Party would be damaged irreparably in the event any of the
provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific
terms or otherwise are breached. Accordingly, notwithstanding Article VII or any
other provision herein, each of the Parties agrees that the other Party shall be
entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the provisions
of this Agreement and to enforce specifically this Agreement and the terms and
provisions hereof in any action instituted in any court of the United States or
any state thereof
10.15 Bulk Transfer Laws. The Parent and the Buyer acknowledge that the
Seller will not comply with the provisions of any bulk transfer laws of any
jurisdiction in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
and the Buyer waives any recourse it may have against the Seller as a result of
failure to comply with such laws.
10.16 Employee Matters.
(a) Transferred Employees.
(i) Offer of Employment. Subject to and in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 10.16, the Parent will make offers of
employment to those certain employees of the Seller identified in
Schedule 10.16(a), in each case contingent on consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the recommendation of
the Seller at the Closing. If the Seller makes no such recommendation
about any one or more such employee(s), the parties hereto acknowledge
and agree that the Parent shall not be obligated to hire such
employee(s). Subject to the provisions of this Section 10.16, the
Parent's offers to such employees shall be substantially in the form
set forth in Exhibit I. Upon Closing, the Buyer shall hire such
employees to whom it has made an offer in accordance with this Section
10.16 and who accept such offer in the manner and within the time
frame reasonably established by the Parent. Each such employee who is
employed by the Seller at the Effective Time and who actually
transfers to employment with the Parent at or after the Effective Time
as a result of an offer of employment made by the Parent is hereafter
referred to as a "Transferred Employee." All other Employees are
hereinafter referred to as "Non-Transferred Employees."
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(ii) Transition. The employment by the Seller of the Transferred
Employees shall end at the Effective Time, and the employment of the
Transferred Employees by the Parent shall commence no earlier than at
12:01 a.m. on the day after the Effective Time. The terms of
employment with the Parent shall be as mutually agreed to between each
Transferred Employee and the Parent, subject to the provisions of this
Section 10.16. Between the date of this Agreement and the Effective
Time, the Seller will provide each Transferred Employee with the same
level of compensation, or higher, as that currently provided by the
Seller. Neither the Parent nor the Buyer shall have any obligation
with respect to payments of vacation pay, sick pay, health or similar
benefits, commissions, bonuses (deferred or otherwise), termination
pay, severance pay, redundancy payments, payments with respect to
employee benefit plans, stock or stock options or any other payments
in the nature of fringe benefits (collectively, "Employee Benefits")
due to any Transferred Employee or Non-Transferred Employee that was
earned, whether accrued or unaccrued, on or prior to the Effective
Time. The Seller will be fully responsible for all amounts payable to
any employee, including (without limitation) all Employee Benefits,
wages or other compensation, earned, whether accrued or unaccrued, by
Transferred Employees and Non-Transferred Employees on or prior to the
Effective Time.
(iii) Retention of Prospective Transferred Employees Prior to
Closing. The Seller agrees to use its best efforts to retain the
prospective Transferred Employees as employees of the Business until
the Effective Time, and to assist the Parent in securing the
employment after the Effective Time of such prospective Transferred
Employees. The Seller shall not transfer any prospective Transferred
Employee to employment with the Seller outside of the Business prior
to the Closing or without the consent of the Parent. The Seller shall
notify the Parent promptly if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any
prospective Transferred Employee terminates employment with the Seller
after the date of this Agreement but prior to the Closing.
(b) Compensation and Benefits of Transferred Employees. Coverage for
Transferred Employees under the Parent's compensation and Employee Benefit
Plans and other programs shall commence no earlier than 12:01 a.m. on the
day after the Effective Time. The Parent shall not assume any of the
Seller's employee benefit plans.
(c) Other Employees of the Business. The Seller acknowledges that the
Non-Transferred Employees shall not be employees of the Parent or the Buyer
after the Closing.
(d) No Right to Continued Employment or Benefits. No provision in this
Agreement shall create any third party beneficiary or other right in any
Person (including any beneficiary or dependent thereof) for any reason,
including, without limitation, in respect of continued, resumed or new
employment with the Seller, the Buyer or the Parent or in respect of any
benefits that may be provided, directly or indirectly, under any plan or
arrangement maintained by the Seller, the Buyer or any Affiliate of the
Seller or the Buyer. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement, neither the Parent nor the Buyer is under any obligation to hire
any employee of the Seller, provide any employee with any particular
benefits, or make any payments or provide any benefits to those employees
of the Seller whom the Parent and the Buyer choose not to employ.
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement on
the date first above written.
SELLER: COX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
BY: /s/ Kurt C. Reid
------------------------------
Kurt C. Reid
Co-Chief Executive Officer
BY: /s/ Brian D. Fletcher
------------------------------
Brian D. Fletcher
Co-Chief Executive Officer
PARENT: SENSITECH INC.
BY: /s/ Eric B. Schultz
------------------------------
Eric B. Schultz
Chairman of the Board &
Chief Executive Officer
BUYER: COX ACQUISITION CORP.
BY: /s/ Eric B. Schultz
------------------------------
Eric B. Schultz
Chairman of the Board &
Chief Executive Officer
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LIST OF EXHIBITS
Assumption Agreement Exhibit A
Bill of Sale Exhibit B
Caskey Employment Agreement Exhibit C
Cox Consulting Agreement Exhibit D
Fletcher Consulting Agreement Exhibit E
Manufacturing Agreement Exhibit F
NonDisclosure Agreement Exhibit G
Reid Consulting Agreement Exhibit H
Transferred Employee Offer Exhibit I
Vitsab Agreement Exhibit J
Certificate of the Seller's CoCEOs, Chairman and Chief
Technology Officer, Chief Financial Officer and President
of Cox Recorders Division pursuant to Section 6.01(f) Exhibit K
Seller's Secretary's certificate pursuant to Section 6.01(g) Exhibit L
Seller's certificate pursuant to Section 6.01(h) Exhibit M
Seller's counsel's opinion pursuant to Section 6.01(q) Exhibit N
Buyer's certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(d) Exhibit O
Buyer's Secretary's and Parent's Secretary's certificates
pursuant to Section 6.02(e) Exhibits P1 & P2
Parent's and Buyer's counsel's opinion pursuant to
Section 6.02(m) Exhibit Q
Seller's confirmation pursuant to Section 7.08(b) Exhibit R
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Annex B
PLAN OF COMPLETE LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION OF
COX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
This Plan of Complete Liquidation and Dissolution (the "Plan") is intended to
accomplish the complete liquidation and dissolution of Cox Technologies, Inc., a
North Carolina corporation (the "Company"), in accordance with the North
Carolina Business Corporation Act (the "NCBCA") and Sections 331 and 336 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), as follows:
1. The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors") has
adopted this Plan and called a meeting (the "Meeting") of the holders
of the Company's Common Stock to take action on the Plan and ratify
the Company's actions taken to date on the Plan. If shareholders
holding a majority of the Company's outstanding common stock (the
"Common Stock"), vote for the adoption of this Plan at the Meeting,
the Plan shall constitute the adopted Plan of the Company, as of the
date of the consummation of the sale of substantially all of the
Company's assets pursuant to a certain Asset Purchase Agreement (the
"asset Purchase Agreement") dated December 12, 2003, as amended
January 29, 2004, by and among Sensitech, Inc. and Cox Acquisition
Corp. (the "Adoption Date").
2. After the Adoption Date, the Company shall not engage in any business
activities except as required under the Asset Purchase Agreement, and
to the extent necessary to preserve the value of its assets, wind up
its business affairs, and distribute its assets in accordance with
this Plan. No later than thirty (30) days following the Adoption Date,
the Company shall file Form 966 with the Internal Revenue Service.
3. From and after the Adoption Date, the Company shall complete the
following corporate actions: The Board of Directors will liquidate the
Company's assets in accordance with any applicable provision of the
NCBCA. Without limiting the flexibility of the Board of Directors, the
Board of Directors may, at it option, instruct the officers of the
Company to follow the procedures set forth in Sections 55-14-06 and
55-14-07 of the NCBCA which instruct such officers to give notice of
the dissolution to all persons having a claim against the Company.
4. The distributions to the shareholders pursuant to Sections 3 hereof
shall be in complete redemption and cancellation of all of the
outstanding Common Stock of the Company. As a condition to receipt of
any distribution to the Company's shareholders, the Board of
Directors, in their absolute discretion, may require the shareholders
to (i) surrender their certificates evidencing the Common Stock to the
Company or its agents for recording of such distributions thereon or
(ii) furnish the Company with evidence satisfactory to the Board of
Directors or the Trustees of the loss, theft or destruction of their
certificates evidencing the Common Stock, together with such surety
bond or other security or indemnity as may be required by and
satisfactory to the Board of Directors ("Satisfactory Evidence and
Indemnity"). The Company will finally close its stock transfer books
and discontinue recording transfers of Common Stock on the date on
which the Company files its Articles of Dissolution under the NCBCA,
and thereafter certificates representing Common Stock will not be
assignable or transferable on the books of the Company except by will,
intestate succession, or operation of law.
5. If any distribution to a shareholder cannot be made, whether because
the shareholder cannot be located, has not surrendered its
certificates evidencing the Common Stock as required hereunder or for
any other reason, the distribution to which such shareholder is
entitled shall be transferred, at such time as the final liquidating
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distribution is made by the Company, to the official of such state or
other jurisdiction authorized by applicable law to receive the
proceeds of such distribution. The proceeds of such distribution shall
thereafter be held solely for the benefit of and for ultimate
distribution to such shareholder as the sole equitable owner thereof
and shall be treated as abandoned property and escheat to the
applicable state or other jurisdiction in accordance with applicable
law. In no event shall the proceeds of any such distribution revert to
or become the property of the Company.
6. After the Adoption Date, the officers of the Company shall, at such
time as the Board of Directors, in its absolute discretion, deems
necessary, appropriate or desirable, file with the Secretary of State
of the State of North Carolina articles of dissolution (the
"Articles") in accordance with the NCBCA. The dissolution may be
revoked by action of the Board of Directors alone.
7. Under this Plan the Board of Directors may approve the sale, exchange
or other disposition in of all of the property and assets of the
Company, including any sale, exchange or other disposition in
liquidation of less than a majority of the property and assets of the
Company to affiliates of the Company, whether such sale, exchange or
other disposition occurs in one transaction or a series of
transactions.
8. In connection with and for the purposes of implementing and assuring
completion of this Plan, the Company may, in the absolute discretion
of the Board of Directors, pay any brokerage, agency, professional,
legal and other fees and expenses of persons rendering services to the
Company in connection with the collection, sale, exchange or other
disposition of the Company's property and assets and the
implementation of this Plan.
9. In connection with and for the purpose of implementing and assuring
completion of this Plan, the Company may, in the absolute discretion
of the Board of Directors, pay the Company's officers, directors,
employees, agents and representatives, or any of them, compensation or
additional compensation above their regular compensation, in money or
other property, as severance, bonus, acceleration of vesting of stock
or stock options, or in any other form, in recognition of the
extraordinary efforts they, or any of them, will be required to
undertake, or actually undertake, in connection with the
implementation of this Plan.
10. The Company shall continue to indemnify its officers, directors,
employees, agents and representatives in accordance with its articles
of incorporation, as amended, and Bylaws and any contractual
arrangements, for the actions taken in connection with this Plan and
the winding up of the affairs of the Company. The Board of Directors
and the Trustees, in their absolute discretion, are authorized to
obtain and maintain insurance as may be necessary or appropriate to
cover the Company's obligation hereunder, including seeking an
extension in time and coverage of the Company's insurance policies
currently in effect.
11. Notwithstanding authorization or consent to this Plan and the
transactions contemplated hereby by the Company's shareholders, the
Board of Directors may modify, amend or abandon this Plan and the
transactions contemplated hereby without further action by the
shareholders to the extent permitted by the NCBCA.
12. The Board of Directors of the Company is hereby authorized, without
further action by the Company's shareholders, to do and perform or
cause the officers of the Company, subject to approval of the Board of
Directors, to do and perform, any and all acts, and to make, execute,
deliver or adopt any and all agreements, resolutions, conveyances,
certificates and other documents of every kind which are deemed
necessary, appropriate or desirable, in the absolute discretion of the
Board of Directors, to implement this Plan and the transaction
contemplated hereby, including, without limiting the foregoing, all
filings or acts required by any state or federal law or regulation to
wind up its affairs.
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Annex C
December 12, 2003
Board of Directors
Cox Technologies, Inc.
69 McAdenville Road
Belmont, NC 28012-2434
Re: Opinion of Financial Advisor
Gentlemen:
We understand that Cox Technologies, Inc. ("Cox Technologies" or the "Company"),
a North Carolina corporation, proposes to enter into an asset purchase agreement
(substantially in the form of the draft dated December 12, 2003 and hereinafter
referred to as the "Asset Purchase Agreement") with Sensitech Inc. and Cox
Acquisition Corp. (the "Purchasers") which provides for the acquisition of
certain assets and assumption of certain liabilities by the Purchasers as
outlined and adjusted in the Asset Purchase Agreement for an aggregate purchase
price of $10,532,000 ("Consideration") (herein referred to as "the
Transaction").
The Board of Directors of the Company has requested our opinion (the "Opinion")
as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the Consideration to be
paid by the Purchasers in connection with the Transaction. The Opinion does not
address the Company's underlying business decision to effect the Transaction. We
have not been requested to, and did not, solicit third party indications of
interest in acquiring all or any part of the Company. Furthermore, we have not
negotiated the Transaction or advised you with respect to alternatives to it.
In connection with this Opinion, we have made such reviews, analyses and
inquiries, as we have deemed necessary and appropriate under the circumstances.
Among other things, we have completed the following:
1. Reviewed the financial terms and conditions contained in the December 12,
2003 draft of the Asset Purchase Agreement among the Company and the
Purchasers and assumed the final form of the Asset Purchase Agreement would
not vary in any respect material to our analysis;
2. Reviewed Cox Technologies' annual reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal years
ended April 30, 1998; 1999; 2000; 2001; 2002 and 2003 and quarterly reports
on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended July 31, 2001; October 31, 2001;
January 31, 2002; July 31, 2002; October 31, 2002; January 31, 2003; and
July 31, 2003;
3. Reviewed Cox Technologies' draft quarterly report dated December 11, 2003
prepared for the pending Form 10-Q filing for the quarter ended October 31,
2003;
4. Interviewed selected senior management and board members of Cox
Technologies, Inc. to discuss the Transaction, the operations, financial
condition, future prospects and performance of the Company;
5. Reviewed the Company's forecasted financial results for the four fiscal
years ended April 30, 2004; 2005; 2006 and 2007;
6. Reviewed various other information from the Company including marketing
pieces and press releases;
7. Reviewed the historical market prices and trading activity of the common
stock of the Company;
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8. Reviewed publicly available information on companies that are publicly
traded and/or have been acquired in a merger or acquisition transaction,
which we deemed comparable to the Company; and
9. Conducted such other analyses, studies and investigations, as we deemed
appropriate under the circumstances for rendering the opinion expressed
herein.
Except as expressly set forth above, we were not provided and did not review any
documentation, preliminary or otherwise, regarding the valuation of the
individual assets of the Company.
We have relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, that the
financial forecasts and projections provided to us have been reasonably prepared
and reflect the best currently available estimates and judgments of the future
financial results and condition of the Company, and that there has been no
material change in the assets, financial condition, business or prospects of the
Company since the date of the most recent financial statements made available to
us.
We have not independently verified the accuracy and completeness of the
information supplied to us with respect to the Company and do not assume any
responsibility with respect to it. We have not made any physical inspection or
independent appraisal of any of the properties or assets of the Company. Our
opinion is necessarily based on business, economic, market and other conditions
as they exist and can be evaluated by us at the date of this letter.
It is understood that this Opinion is for the information of the Board of
Directors in connection with its evaluation of the Transaction and does not
constitute a recommendation to the Purchasers or any holder of shares of common
stock of Cox Technologies, Inc. as to whether to enter into the Asset Purchase
Agreement or to take other action in connection with the Transaction. This
Opinion is delivered to you subject to the conditions, scope of engagement,
limitations and understandings set forth in this Opinion and our engagement
letter dated November 5, 2003 (the "Engagement Letter") with the Board of
Directors, and subject to the understanding that the obligations of Ensemble
Consulting LLC in the transaction are solely corporate obligations, and no
officer, director, employee, agent, shareholder or controlling person of
Ensemble Consulting LLC shall be subjected to any personal liability whatsoever
to any person, nor will any such claim be asserted by or on behalf of you or
your affiliates unless permitted by the Engagement Letter. This letter speaks
only as of its date and we are under no obligation and do not undertake any
obligation to update the Opinion at any time after the date hereof.
In arriving at this opinion, we did not attribute any particular weight to any
analysis or factor considered by it, but rather made qualitative judgments as to
the significance and relevance of each analysis and factor. Accordingly, we
believe that our analyses must be considered as a whole and that selecting
portions of our analyses, without considering all analyses, would create an
incomplete view of the process underlying the Opinion.
Based upon the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, it is our opinion that the
Consideration to be paid by the Purchaser in connection with the Transaction is
fair to the shareholders of Cox Technologies, Inc. from a financial point of
view.
Sincerely,
/s/ Justine E. Tobin
Ensemble Consulting LLC
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